














COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




7a.tr 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


BY THE SAME AUTHOR 


Patty Series 

Patty Fairfield 
Patty at Home 
Patty in the City 
Patty’s Summer Days 
Patty in Paris 
Patty’s Friends 
Patty’s Pleasure Trip 
Patty’s Success 
Patty’s Motor Car 

Marjorie Series 

Marjorie’s Vacation 
Marjorie’s Busy Days 
Marjorie’s New Friend 
Marjorie in Command 
Marjorie’s Maytime 












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With a few strokes, King pulled out 
INTO MID-STREAM ( page 89 ) 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


BY 

CAROLYN WELLS 

ii 

AUTHOR OF “MARJORIE IN COMMAND,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED BY 
HERBERT F. BOHNERT 



•4 

> 

I ) 



NEW YORK 

DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 

1911 



Copyright, 1911, by 
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 

Published September, 1911 





THE QUINN A BODEN CO. PRESS 
RAHWAY, N. J. 


i/ 

©CIA29712I 
> ft 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I 

A May Party . 



PAGE 

1 

II 

A New Pet 



13 

III 

A Trial Trip . 



26 

IV 

Visiting a Camp 



38 

y 

Held a Captive 



50 

VI 

At Grandma Sherwood’s 



62 

VII 

An Early Escapade 



74 

VIII 

An Exciting Picnic . 



85 

IX 

Ancient Finery 



97 

X 

Calling at the Schoolhouse 


109 

XI 

A Chance Acquaintance 



120 

XII 

At Grandma Maynard’s 



133 

XIII 

A Children’s Party 



146 

XIV 

A Merry Joke 



160 

XV 

A Ride in May 



170 

XVI 

At the Circus 



182 

XVII 

Little Vivian . 



194 

XVIII 

In Boston 



205 

XIX 

Fun at Cousin Ethel’s 



217 

XX 

The Festival . 

# 

# 

230 






































































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■ 
























*> 








ILLUSTRATIONS 


With a few strokes, King pulled 

out into mid-stream . . Frontispiece 

“ I will not keep still ! ” . Facing page 52 

The footman stood behind them, 

grave and impassive . . “ “ 136 

“ I like it, — but I think I’d 
rather be a little home-girl 
like you 


108 



MARJORIES MAYTIME 


CHAPTER I 

A MAY PARTY 

“Marjorie Maynard’s May 

Came on a beautiful day; 

And Maijorie’s Maytime 
Is Marjorie’s playtime; 

And that’s what I sing and I say ! 

Hooray ! 

Yes, that’s what I sing and I say ! ’* 

Marjorie was coming downstairs in her own sweet 
way, which was accomplished by putting her two 
feet close together, and jumping two steps at a 
time. It didn’t expedite her descent at all, but 
it was delightfully noisy, and therefore agreeable 
from Marjorie’s point of view. 

The May-day was undeniably beautiful. It was 
warm enough to have doors and windows flung 
open, and the whole house was full of May that 
had swarmed in from out of doors. 

The air was soft and fragrant, the leaves were 
leaving out, the buds were budding, and the spring 
was springing everywhere. 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


The big gold bushes of the Forsythia were 
masses of yellow bloom; crocuses popped up 
through the grass ; a few birds had begun to sing, 
and the sun shone as if with a settled determina- 
tion to push the spring ahead as fast as he 
could. 

Moreover it was Saturday, which was the best 
proof of all, of an intelligent and well-behaved 
Spring. For a May-day which knew enough to 
fall on a Saturday was a satisfactory May-day, 
indeed ! 

Of course there was to be a May party, and 
of course it was to be at the Maynards’, because 
Marjorie always claimed that the whole month 
of May belonged to their family, and she im- 
proved every shining hour of the Maytime. 

The May party was really under the auspices of 
the Jinks Club. But as the club was largely com- 
posed of Maynards, it was practically a Maynard 
May party. 

The bowers for the May Queens had been built 
out on the lawn, and though a little wabbly as 
to architecture, they were beautiful of decoration, 
and highly satisfactory to the Royalty most in- 
terested. 

There were two May Queens, because Marjorie 
and Delight both wanted the position ; and though 
both were willing to resign in favor of the other 


A MAY PARTY 


3 


it was a much pleasanter arrangement to have 
two Queens. So there were two bowers, and Mar- 
jorie was to be the Red Queen and Delight the 
White Queen. 

Of course Kingdon was the May King. No 
one had ever heard of a May King before, but 
that didn’t bother the Jinks Club any, for they 
were a law unto themselves. 

Kitty and Dorothy Adams were Princesses of 
May, and Flip Henderson was a Prince of May. 
Rosy Posy was a May Maid of Honor, and Mrs. 
Maynard was persuaded to accept the role of 
Queen Dowager of May. 

Miss Hart was of the party, and the title of 
Duchess of May seemed to fit her exactly. 

And now the time had come, and Marjorie was 
jumping downstairs on her way to her own coro- 
nation. She wore a red dress, very much trimmed 
with flowers made of red tissue paper. The name 
of the flower doesn’t matter, for they were not 
exact copies of nature, but they were very pretty 
and effective, and red silk stockings and slippers 
finished off the brilliant costume that was very 
becoming to Marjorie’s rosy face, with its dark 
eyes and dark curly hair. 

As she reached the lower hall she saw Delight 
coming across the street, arrayed as the White 
Queen. Really she looked more like a fairy, with 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


her frilly white frock and her golden hair and 
blue eyes. 

“ Hello, Flossy Flouncy ! ” called out King, 
using his pet name for Delight ; 46 you’re a daisy 
May Queen ! I offer you my humble homage ! ” 

A daisy May Queen was an appropriate term, 
for Delight’s white frock was trimmed and 
wreathed with garlands of daisies. Not real ones, 
for they were not yet in bloom, except in green- 
houses; and so artificial ones had been sewn on 
her frock with pretty effect. 

King’s own attempt at a regal costume had re- 
sulted gorgeously, for with his mother’s help, he 
had contrived a robe of state, which looked like 
purple velvet and ermine, though it was really 
canton flannel. But it had a grand and noble 
air, and King wore it with a majestic strut that 
would have done credit to any coronation. 

Kitty and Dorothy wore light green dresses 
trimmed with pink paper roses, and were very 
pretty little princesses; while Rosy Posy as Maid 
of Honor wore one of her own little white frocks, 
tied up lavishly with blue ribbons. 

Flip Henderson’s costume was a good deal like 
King’s, as he had purposely copied it, not having 
any other design to work from. 

Mrs. Maynard and Miss Hart were not so fan- 
cifully attired as the younger members of the 


A MAY PARTY 


5 


party, but they wore pretty light gowns with more 
or less floral decoration. 

The whole affair was impromptu; the children 
had spent the morning getting it up, and now were 
going to devote the afternoon to the party itself. 

“ We must make a procession,” began Marjorie, 
who was mistress of ceremonies ; “ you must go 
first, Mother, because the May Queen Dowager is 
the most honorable one.” 

“ Me go first, too,” announced Rosy Posy, tak- 
ing her mother’s hand. 

“Yes, you may,” said Marjorie. “In fact, 
Baby, you’d better go first of all, because you’re 
Maid of Honor; and so you walk in front of the 
Queen Dowager.” 

So Rosy Posy toddled ahead, followed by Mrs. 
Maynard, who carried a wand of flowers with 
gracious effect. 

“ The Queens ought to come next,” said King, 
but Marjorie’s sense of politeness interfered with 
this plan. 

“No, the Duchess must come next,” she said; 
“ I don’t care whether it’s right or not as a pro- 
cession, but I think Miss Hart ought to go before 
us children.” 

So the Duchess of May took her place next in 
line, and then the two Queens side by side followed. 

Then came the two Princesses, and behind them, 


6 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


the King of May and the Prince, walking together 
in affable companionship. It was an imposing 
sight, and the paraders were so pleased with them- 
selves that they marched round the lawn several 
times before going to the scene of the festivity. 

But at last they went to the Coronation Bowers, 
and decided it was time for the ceremonies to 
begin. 

The two crowns were in readiness for the two 
Queens. They were exactly alike, and were made 
of pasteboard covered with gilt paper. Miss Hart 
had helped with these, and they were really tri- 
umphs of gorgeous beauty. Each lay on a lace- 
trimmed cushion, and with them were long golden 
sceptres with gilt balls on top. 

“Who’s to do to the crowning?” asked King. 

“ Why, I supposed you had those details all 
settled in advance,” said Miss Hart, laughing. 

“ No,” returned King, “ we didn’t fix things 
up ahead much, we thought we’d just make up as 
we went along. I’ll crown Flossy Flouncy, and 
Flip, you crown Marjorie, — that’ll be all right.” 

The other members of the Royal Family took 
seats on rustic benches, and the two Queens 
mounted their thrones. The bowers were pretty,, 
and as they stood side by side, framing the smiling 
Queens, it was a pretty picture. 

“I hate to stop the proceedings,” said Miss 


A MAY PARTY 


7 


Hart, “ but I think I must run over and get my 
camera, and take a snapshot of this Coronation.” 

“ All right,” said King, agreeably, 44 we’ll wait. 
We’ll sing a song while you’re gone, and you can 
skip over and back in no time.” 

So while the children sang the 64 Star Spangled 
Banner,” Miss Hart ran across the street, and 
came back with her camera. 

44 Better wait until they get their crowns on,” 
suggested Kitty, 44 they’ll look a heap queenier 
then.” 

So the coronation ceremony proceeded. The 
King and the Prince advanced majestically to the 
thrones, bearing the crowns on their cushions. 

44 Who’ll make the speech? ” asked the King. 

44 You may,” said Flip, politely. 

44 No, you’re better at it than I am. Well, we’ll 
each make one. You can begin.” 

So Flip advanced, and holding his burden high 
at arms’ length he dropped on one knee before 
Marjorie, and began to declaim in oratorical tones : 

44 Fair Maiden, Queen of May, I salute thee ! 
I salute all the rest of you too, but mostly the 
Queen, because she is the principal pebble on the 
beach. Queens always are. And so, Fair Maiden, 
Fair Maynard Maiden, I salute thee.” 

44 That’s enough saluting,” put in King; 44 go 
on with your crowning.” 


8 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ And so, fair Queen of May, I crown thee, our 
Queen and our Sovereign ! May your shadow 
never grow less, and may you have many happy 
returns of the day! And with kind regards to 
all, I’m your humble servant.” 

Having set the crown squarely on Marjorie’s 
head, Flip bowed low in humble salutation, and 
then resumed an upright position, rather pleased 
with his own speech. 

“ I accept thy homage, O Prince,” said Mar- 
jorie, as she bowed and smiled with queenly grace; 
“ and I shall endeavor to be the best Queen in all 
the world, except Delight, who will probably be 
better.” 

With this graceful tribute to her companion 
queen, Marjorie sat down, holding her head very 
straight lest her crown should tumble off. 

Then King advanced to Delight, and holding up 
the other crown, began his declamatory effort. 

“ Oh, Queen ! Oh, White Queen ! Oh, our beau- 
tiful sovereign ! I bring to thee a crown, — a crown 
to crown you with, to show to all that you are our 
beloved and beloving Queen of May. Accept, oh, 
Queen, this crown and sceptre, and with them the 
assurance of our alleged loyalty, our humble sub- 
mission, and our majestic royalty ! I am a little at 
a loss for any thing further to say, as I can’t 
think of any more highfalutin words, so you may 


A MAY PARTY 


9 


as well put on your crown, and let’s have some 
fun.” 

But though King’s high-flown language failed 
him, it was with a very magnificent manner that 
he crowned his Queen and gave her the flower- 
trimmed sceptre. 

Then Delight, looking lovelier than ever in her 
added regalia, made her own little speech. 

“ I thank you, my people, for your tokens of 
love and loyalty. I thank you for choosing me 
to be your queen, and my rule shall be a happy 
one. My only law is, for everybody to do just 
what they want to, and so I pronounce the Corona- 
tion Ceremonies over.” 

Delight bowed, and sat down on her throne, 
while the audience applauded heartily. 

Then the two Queens came down from their 
bowers, and Royalty gave way to the members 
of the Jinks Club. 

“ Now, let’s cut up jinks! ” cried King, caper- 
ing about in his long Court robes, and looking like 
a very merry Monarch, indeed. “ First the May- 
pole dance, that’ll limber us up some.” 

A May-pole had been erected near by, and from 
its top depended long ribbons of various colors. 
Each of the party took one of these ribbons, and 
under the direction of Miss Hart, they danced 
round the May-pole, weaving the ribbons in and 


10 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


out. It was a complicated matter at first, but 
they soon learned how, and wove and unwove the 
ribbons many times without getting tangled once. 
As they danced, they sang a little May song that 
Miss Hart had taught them, and as they danced 
faster and faster it became a frolic rather than 
a dignified rite. 

At last, all out of breath they dropped on 
the grass, and begged Miss Hart to tell them a 
story. 

“ I’ll tell you of the origin of the May-day 
celebrations,” she said. “ May-day has been a fes- 
tival since very ancient times. Its reason for 
being is the natural feeling that comes to every 
one at the glad spring time. When Nature breaks 
out into new life and beauty, our hearts feel a 
sympathetic gladness, and a celebration of the 
spring is the natural outcome. The most primi- 
tive people felt this inclination, and they used to 
gather the flowers that bloomed in profusion about 
them, set them up, and to pay them a sort of 
homage, expressed in dance and song. The old 
Romans had what they called Floralia, or Floral 
Games, which began on the twenty-eighth of April, 
and lasted several days. Later in England, and 
especially in the Middle Ages, it was the custom for 
people of all ranks, even the Court itself, to go 
out early in the morning on the first of May and 


A MAY PARTY 


11 


gather flowers. Especially did they gather haw- 
thorn, and huge branches of this flower were 
brought home about sunrise, with accompaniments 
of pipe and tabor, and much joy and merriment. 
Then the people decorated their houses with the 
flowers they had brought. And because of this, 
they called this ceremony bringing Home the May, 
or going A-Maying, and so the hawthorn bloom 
itself acquired the name of May, and is often 
spoken of by that name. In those early days, 
the fairest maid of the village was crowned with 
flowers, and called the Queen of May; she sat in 
state in a little bower or arbor while her youthful 
courtiers danced and sang around her. But the 
custom of having a May Queen really dates back 
to the old Roman celebration when they especially 
worshipped the goddess Flora. Another feature 
of May-day was the May-pole, which was erected 
in all English towns and villages, and round which 
the people danced all day long. But these merry 
customs were stopped when the Puritans put an 
end to all such jollifications. They were revived 
somewhat after the restoration, but they are rarely 
seen nowadays except among children. But they 
are all pretty customs, and the whole subject will 
well repay reading and study. I won’t continue 
this lecture now, but before the month of May is 
over, we will study in school hours some of its 


12 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


characteristics, and we will read the poem of the 
May Queen, by Lord Tennyson.” 

“ I wish you had boys in your school, Miss 
Hart,” said Flip Henderson ; “ you do teach the 
nicest way I ever heard of.” 

“ Indeed she does,” agreed Marjorie; “ going to 
school to Miss Hart is like going to a party every 
day.” 

And then came the crowning glory of the May 
party. This was the feast, which was served out 
of doors on a table prettily decorated with vines 
and flowers. Dainty sandwiches were tied up with 
pink ribbons, and little glass cups held delicious 
pink lemonade. The cakes were iced with pink, the 
ice cream was pink, and there were pink bon-bons 
of various sorts. At each plate was a little pink 
box of candies to take home; and a souvenir for 
each guest in the shape of a pink fan for the girls, 
and pink balloons for the boys. The big balloons 
made much fun as they bobbed about in the air, 
and when the feast was over, the guests went away 
declaring that the Jinks Club had never had a 
prettier party. 


CHAPTER II 


A NEW PET 

When Mr. Maynard came home that night he 
was treated to an account of the whole affair, 
but as two or three of the little Maynards often 
talked at once, the effect was sometimes unintelli- 
gible. 

44 It was the loveliest party, Father,” said Mar- 
jorie, as she hung over one arm of his chair, and 
arranged a somewhat large bunch of blossoms in 
his buttonhole. 

“ Yes, it was,” agreed Kitty, who hung on the 
other arm of the chair, and investigated his coat 
pockets in the hope of finding a box of candy or 
other interesting booty. 

44 It sure was ! ” declared King, who was sitting 
on a footstool near, and hugging one knee with 
apparently intense affection. 

44 And what made it so especially delightful? ” 
asked Mr. Maynard, as he balanced Rosy Posy 
on his knee ; 44 you tell me, Baby.” 

44 It was a bootiful party,” said Rosy Posy, 
with decision, 44 because we had pink ice cream.” 

13 


14 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 That was about the best part,” said Kitty, 
reminiscently. 

44 Well, the pink ice cream part sounds delight- 
ful, I’m sure ; but what was the rest of the party 
about ? ” 

44 Oh, it was a May party,” exclaimed Marjorie, 
44 and we had May Queens, and a May King, and 
May Princesses, and everything! I do love May, 
don’t you, Father? Everything is so bright and 
bloomy and Maysy. I think it is the loveliest 
month in the year.” 

44 Yes, it is a lovely month, Mopsy, and a good 
month to be out of doors. Maytime is playtime.” 

44 Yes, I know it ; I made a song this morning 
about that. I’ll sing it to you.” And Marjorie 
sang for her father the little verse she had made 
about Marjorie Maynard’s May. 

44 Huh ! ” said King, 44 ’tisn’t your May, any 
more than anybody else’s, Midget Maynard.” 

44 No, I know it; but I like to think the May 
just belongs to us Maynards. Anyway we have 
it all. It is our May even if other people use it, 
too.” 

44 1 don’t begrudge them the use of it,” said 
Kitty; 44 of course, it’s just as much theirs as 
ours.” 

44 Yes, of course,” assented Marjorie; 44 I’m only 
just sort of imagining, you know.” 


A NEW PET 


15 


M Let me help you imagine, Midget,” said her 
father. “ How would you like to imagine a whole 
May time that was all playtime ? ” 

“For all of us?” rejoined Marjorie, her eyes 
dancing. “ Oh, that would be a lovely imagina- 
tion! It would be like an Ourday all the time! 
And by the way, Father, you owe us an 
extra Ourday. You know we skipped one when 
you and Mother were down South, and it’s time 
for another anyway. Shall we have two to- 
gether? ” 

u Two together ! ” cried King ; “ what fun that 
would be! We could go off on a trip or some- 
thing.” 

“ Where could we stay all night? ” asked Kitty, 
who was the practical one. 

“ Oh, trips always have places to stay all night,” 
declared King; “let’s do it, Father. What do 
you say? ” 

“ I don’t get a chance to say much of any- 
thing, among all you chatter-boxes. Rosy Posy, 
what do you say ? ” 

But the littlest Maynard was so nearly asleep 
that she had no voice in the matter under 
consideration, and at her father’s suggestion, 
Nurse Nannie came and took her away to 
bed. 

“ Now,” said Mr. Maynard, “ what’s all this 


16 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIMjc 


about Ourday? And two of them together! When 
do you think I’m going to get my business done? ” 

“ Well, but, Father, you owe them to us,” said 
Marjorie, patting his cheek in her wheedlesome 
way. “ And you’re not the kind of a business 
man who doesn’t pay his debts, are you ? ” 

“ I hope not ; that would be a terrible state of 
affairs! And so I owe you two Ourdays, do I? ” 

“ Yes, one for April, and one for May.” 

It was the custom in the Maynard household 
to have an Ourday each month. On these occa- 
sions both Mr. and Mrs. Maynard devoted them- 
selves all day long to the entertainment of the 
four children, and the four took turns in deciding 
what the nature of the entertainment should be. 
Much of the previous month their parents had 
been away, and the children looked forward to the 
celebration of the belated Ourday in connection 
with the one that belonged to the month of May. 

“ Before we discuss the question further,” said 
Mr. Maynard, “ I must tell you of something I 
did to-day. I adopted a new pet.” 

“ Oh, Father, what is it — a dog? ” cried Mar- 
jorie. 

“ No, it isn’t a dog; guess again.” 

“ A cat ! ” Kitty guessed, while King said, “ A 
goat? ” 

“ Wrong, all of you,” said Mr. Maynard ; “ now 


A NEW PET IT 

see if you can’t guess it by asking twenty ques- 
tions.” 

“ All right,” said Marjorie, who was always 
ready for a game. 44 Is it animal, vegetable, or 
mineral? ” 

44 All three ; that is, it belongs to all three king- 
doms.” 

44 Is it a house? ” asked Kitty. 

44 No, it is not as big as a house.” 

44 Is it useful or ornamental? ” asked King. 

44 Both ; but its principal use is to give pleasure.” 

44 How lovely ! ” cried Marjorie. 44 1 guess it’s a 
fountain! Oh, Father, where are you going to 
put it — on the side lawn ? And will it have gold- 
fish in it, and shiny stones, and green water plants 
growing in it? ” 

44 Wait a minute, Mops ; don’t go so fast ! You 
see, it isn’t a fountain, and if you should put 
water and goldfish in it, you’d spoil it entirely.” 

44 And any way, Father,” said King, 44 you said 
it was a pet, didn’t you?” 

44 Yes, my boy, a sort of pet.” 

44 Can it talk? ” 

44 No, it can’t talk.” 

44 Oh, I made sure it was a talking machine. 
What kind of a sound does it make? ” 

44 Well, it purrs sometimes.” 

44 Then it is a kitten after all,” cried Kitty. 


18 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ No, it isn’t a kitten. It’s bigger than a 
kitten.” 

“An old cat!” said Marjorie, scornfully. 

“ Pooh,” said King, “ we’ll never get at it this 
way. Of course it isn’t a cat! Father wouldn’t 
make so much fuss over just a cat.” 

“ But I’m not making a fuss,” protested Mr. 
Maynard ; “ I only told you I had adopted a new 
pet, and suggested you guess what it is. If you 
give up I’ll tell you.” 

“ I don’t give up,” cried Kitty ; “ what color is 
it?” 

“ Red,” answered her father. 

“ Ho ! ” cried Kitty, with a sudden flash of in- 
spiration, “ it’s an automobile ! ” 

“ Right you are, Kitsie,” said her father, 
“ though I don’t know why you guessed it so 
quick.” 

“ Well, nothing else is red and big. But why 
do you call it a pet ? And how does it purr ? ” 

“ You’re so practical, Kitty, it’s difficult to make 
you understand; but I feel quite sure we’ll all 
make a pet of it, and when you once hear it purr, 
you’ll think it a prettier sound than any kitten 
ever made.” 

“ Is it really an automobile, Father ? And have 
you bought it And shall we ride in it? Where 
is it? Where are you going to keep it? When 


A NEW PET 19 

will it come? How many will it hold? Where 
shall we ride first? ” 

These queries were flung at Mr. Maynard by 
the breathless children without waiting for an- 
swers, and as Mrs. Maynard came in just then, 
Mr. Maynard told the story of his new acquisi- 
tion. 

“ Pve been looking at them for some time, as 
you know, Helen,” he said, looking at his wife, 
“ and to-day I decided upon the purchase. It’s a 
big touring car, and will comfortably accommo- 
date the whole Maynard family and a chauffeur 
beside. It will arrive day after to-morrow, that’s 
Monday, and after a few short spins around this 
neighborhood, I think by Thursday we may be able 
to start for an Ourday trip in it.” 

“ A whole Ourday in an automobile ! ” cried 
Marjorie; “ how gorgeous and grand! Oh, King, 
isn’t it just splendiferous ! ” 

Marjorie sprang to her feet, and grasped her 
brother round the neck, and they flew round the 
room in a sort of a wild Indian war-dance that 
went far to express their joy and delight at the 
prospect. 

“ Two Ourdays, you know, Father,” said Kitty, 
nestling quietly to her father’s side as her madcap 
brother and sister whirled round the room. But 
they brought up with a round turn, though a little 


20 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


dishevelled-looking, to hear Mr. Maynard’s reply 
to Kitty’s remark. 

“Yes, two Ourdays at once!” Marjorie cried, 
affectionately pulling King’s hair as she spoke. 
He returned the caress by pinching her ear, and 
said, “Will it be two Ourdays together, Father, 
or one at a time ? ” 

“ If you two young tornadoes will sit down 
quietly for a moment, you may hear of something 
to your advantage,” said Mr. Maynard, smiling 
at his two eldest children who were rather red- 
faced and breathless from their recent exertions. 

“ Sure we will ! ” cried King, and drawing Mar- 
jorie down with him, they fell in a heap on the 
floor, and sat there awaiting further disclosures. 

“ You see,” Mr. Maynard began, “ as Marjorie 
says, Maytime is, — what ? ” 

“ Playtime,” supplemented Marjorie, quickly. 

“ Well, then, if May time is playtime for the 
Maynards, why shouldn’t we play all through the 
month of May? ” 

“Play every day, 

All the month of May, 

All the Maynards may 
Play all day ! 

Hooray ! Hooray ! Hooray ! ” 

sang Marjorie who often improvised her songs as 
she went along. This was not a difficult one to 


A NEW PET 


21 


learn, and King and Kitty took up the refrain, 
and they sang it over and over with great gusto, 
until Mrs. Maynard begged for a respite. 

44 But of course you don’t mean anything like 
that? ” said Kitty, when the song had ceased. 

44 But that’s just exactly what I do mean. 
What do you think of the plan of the Maynards 
going a-Maying in their own motor car, and taking 
the whole month of May for it? ” 

Marjorie’s eyes opened wide. 44 I know what 
you mean ! ” she exclaimed ; 44 you mean a tour — a 
tour through the country in an automobile! I’ve 
heard of such things ! ” 

44 Wise child!” said her father; 44 well, that’s 
exactly what I do mean. A tour through the 
country in our own motor, and in our own May- 
time. How does it strike you ? ” 

44 It strikes me all of a heap! ” cried Marjorie, 
throwing herself into her father’s arms ; 44 tell me 
more, quick ! Seems as if I can’t believe it ! ” 

44 1 can’t believe it, either,” said Kitty, slowly ; 
44 but I ’spect I can by the time we get ready to 
start. When are we going, Father? ” 

44 On Thursday, if Mother can be ready.” 

44 Oh, yes, I can be ready. I’ve only to get a 
few things for the children and myself to wear on 
the journey.” 

44 Yes, we must all have up-to-date motor togs, 


22 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


I’m sure,” and Mr. Maynard looked about as 
happy over the projected trip, as any of his chil- 
dren. 

“ But, Father,” said Marjorie, “how can you 
take so much time away from your business? You 
said you couldn’t take two Ourdays together be- 
cause you were busy.” 

“ I didn’t say exactly that, dearie, and anyway 
I was only joking, because I knew I was going to 
spring this surprise on you in a few minutes. I 
have arranged, of course, to be away from my 
business for nearly a month, and have planned to 
spend the greater part of May taking this motor 
trip. We will go to Grandma Sherwood’s first, 
and stay a few days, ” 

“ To Grandma Sherwood’s ? Oh, glorious ! ” 
And again Marjorie was seized with a paroxysm 
of joy, and this time she caught Kitty, and led 
her off for a mad dance round the room. “ Just 
think of it, Kit,” she cried, “ we’ll be at Grandma 
Sherwood’s together, and you can see the lovely 
room she fixed up for me, and the house in the tree, 
and everything. Oh, Kitty ! ” 

“ But I’m going to be there all summer, any- 
way,” said Kitty, as she finally induced Marjorie 
to tumble on the divan amid a heap of sofa 
pillows. 

“Yes, I know; but that’s different. But what 


A NEW PET 


23 


fun for us all to be there together for a few days ! 
Did you say a few days, Father? ” 

44 Yes, I did; but if you’re so turbulent, and 
excitable, and noisy I think a few hours ’ll be 
enough for Grandma and Uncle Steve.” 

44 It may be enough for Grandma, but it won’t 
for Uncle Steve,” declared Marjorie ; 44 he loves 
rackety-packety children ! ” 

44 Well, he’ll get his desires fulfilled when you 
get there,” said Mrs. Maynard, smiling ; 44 but per- 
haps the trip there will calm you down a little 
bit.” 

44 No, it won’t! It just makes me more and 
more crazy all the time I think of it ! Oh, Father, 
won’t we have a lot of our Ourdays all at once ! ” 
44 Indeed we will, enough to last for several years 
ahead. For if you debit me with last month’s 
deficiency, of course you must credit me in the 
future.” 

44 Oh, no, this rule doesn’t work both ways ! 
We’ll just take all the Ourdays that we can get 
whenever we can get them. But what are we going 
to do after we leave Grandma’s ? ” 

44 Well, if you all agree, I thought we might go 
over to New York and see your other grandma.” 

44 Go to Grandma Maynard’s, too ! Oh, what 
fun we will have! ” and Marjorie looked as if her 
cup of bliss were full and running over. 


24 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ And after that,” said Mrs. Maynard, “ if 
none of you object too seriously, we thought per- 
haps a little run up through New England would 
prove attractive.” 

46 Mother,” said King, looking at her twinkling 
eyes, 46 you planned all this out before? It’s no 
surprise to you ! ” 

44 Very true, King; your father and I planned it 
while we were on our Southern trip. We had such 
a delightful outing, it seemed only fair that we 
should take you children for a trip also. And 
your father has been thinking for some time about 
buying an automobile, and as he can take the time 
now, it all works in beautifully.” 

44 Beautiful ! I should think it was ! ” cried 
Marjorie; 44 and Mother, will we all have motor 
coats and goggles, and all those queer things that 
they wear in automobiles ? ” 

44 You won’t have any queer things, and I doubt 
if you’ll need goggles; but you and Kitty shall 
have pretty motor coats, and pretty hoods and 
veils. We’ll go on Monday to buy them.” 

44 Oh,” sighed Marjorie, 44 it just does seem too 
good to be true! It’s like a fairy dream, and I 
’spect I’ll wake up every minute. What about 
lessons, Mother?” 

44 We’ve thought of that ; but as your lessons 
would stop the first of June anyway, you’ll only 


A NEW PET 


25 


lose a few weeks, and so we’re going to take you 
all out of school for that time. For this year, 
at any rate, Maytime shall be playtime for the 
Maynards.” 

“ I’m so glad I’m a Maynard, and live in the 
Maynard family,” said Kitty, with a deep sigh of 
satisfaction. 

“ So’m I,” declared Marjorie; “there never 
was such a nice family, with such a bee-yootiful 
father and mother ! ” 

And as if this were a signal for a general 
onslaught, the three young Maynards made a dash 
for the two older Maynards, and nearly choked 
them with well-meant but rather athletic embraces, 
which was their fashion of expressing approval 
and appreciation. 


CHAPTER III 


A TRIAL TRIP 

Owing to some unexpected delay, the automobile 
didn’t arrive until Wednesday. But when at last 
it came whirring up the drive, the assembled May- 
nards on the veranda greeted it with shouts of 
approval. 

“ Did you ever see such a beauty ! ” cried Mar- 
jorie, as she danced around the new car, and clam- 
bering up on the farther side, jumped over the 
closed door, and fell plump into one of the 
cushioned seats. 

“ Oh, Mopsy ! ” cried her father, “ that isn’t 
the way to get in.” 

“I don’t care, — I am in! And it’s just great 
in here! Why, there’s room enough for a whole 
party.” 

The chauffeur who brought the car seemed a 
little surprised at the antics of the children, for 
he was a stolid Englishman, and not much accus- 
tomed to American exuberance. 

Mr. Maynard had engaged him on the best 
recommendations, and felt sure that he was a trust- 
worthy and capable man. His name was Pomp- 
26 


A TRIAL TRIP 


n 


ton, and he was large and muscular, with a face 
that was grave but not ill-natured. 

Kingdon made friends with him at once, and 
climbing up into the seat beside him, asked in- 
numerable questions about the various parts of 
the machine. 

66 Suppose we go at once for a trial spin,” pro- 
posed Mr. Maynard, and almost before he had 
completed his sentence, a chorus of assent rose in 
response. 

44 Oh, do, Father,” cried King; 44 and let me 
stay here in front, so I can see how it works.” 

44 Some other time you may do that, King, but 
this time I want to sit in front myself, so hop out, 
and take one of the orchestra chairs.” 

44 All right, sir,” and King tumbled out, and 
flew around to the other side of the car. Mrs. 
Maynard, Kitty, and Rosamond were already 
seated in the wide, comfortable back seat. This 
left two seats in the tonneau for King and Mar- 
jorie, and with Mr. Maynard in front, by the side 
of Pompton, the car offered perfect accommoda- 
tions for the Maynard family. It was a big tour- 
ing car of a most approved make, and up-to-date 
finish. The top could be opened or closed at will, 
and there were many appurtenances and clever con- 
trivances for comfort, designed to add to the de- 
lights of a long tour. 


28 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


The family had been so eager to start at once 
that they had not paused to get hats or wraps, 
and as the top was down, the strong breeze blew 
their hair all about, and also made conversation a 
little difficult. 

But the Maynard children were not baffled by 
difficulties, and they raised their voices until they 
were audible in spite of the wind. 

“Isn’t it magnificent!” screamed Marjorie, 
pulling at King’s collar to attract his attention. 

“ Perfectly gorgiferous ! — and then some ! ” he 
yelled back, a little preoccupied in manner, because 
he was leaning over the chauffeur’s shoulder, in 
his impatience to learn how to run the machine. 

They went flying through the streets of Rock- 
well, and out into the country for a little run. 
Then as they were to start on their tour next 
day, Mrs. Maynard declared they must be turning 
homeward. 

“ Oh, Father,” cried Marjorie, “ after Mother 
gets out, mayn’t we take Delight out for a few 
moments? Even only just around the block? ” 

“Will she care to go, Mopsy? You know an 
automobile isn’t such a wonderful novelty to her 
as it is to you.” 

“ Oh, yes, she’ll care to go in ours, — and any- 
way I mean just for a minute.” 

“ All right then, chickabiddy ; we’ll put Mother 


A TRIAL TRIP 29 

and Baby out, then we’ll take Delight around the 
block, and that’ll be about all for to-day.” 

So Mrs. Maynard and Rosy Posy were depos- 
ited on their own doorstep, and the big red car 
flew across the street to give Delight an exhibi- 
tion of its glories. 

She was glad to go, but she was far from being 
as enthusiastic as the Maynard children, for De- 
light was a timid little girl, and never felt entirely 
at her ease in a fast-flying motor. She nestled in 
the back seat between Marjorie and Kitty, and 
grasped both their hands when the car swung 
swiftly around a corner. 

Then they happened to meet Flip Henderson 
walking along the street, and they picked him up 
as an extra passenger, and then Kitty said : “ Oh, 
now we’ve got the whole Jinks Club except Doro- 
thy Adams. Do let’s stop for her, Father, and 
then go round one more block.” 

Good-natured Mr. Maynard consented, and 
though there was no vacant seat, Dorothy was 
bundled in somehow, and the crowd of shouting, 
laughing children were driven around several 
blocks. 

The quiet little town of Rockwell was amazed 
at the sight, and thought it must be some new 
kind of a circus advertisement, until they realized 
that it was the Maynard family, and people had 


30 MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

long ceased to be surprised at what the Maynards 
did. 

But at last the children who were not Maynards 
were left at their respective homes, and the big 
red car again turned in at its own home. 

“Where are you going to keep it, Father?” 
asked King, as they all scrambled out. 

“ I shall have a garage built on the place as 
soon as we get back ; but for to-night our pet will 
have to sleep in other lodgings. Skip into the 
house now, you children, for I want to talk to 
Pompton without the interruption of a crowd of 
chatter-boxes.” 

So the three went into the house and stood to- 
gether at a front window, flattening their noses 
against the glass, as they looked out at their new 
treasure. King was in the middle, behind his two 
sisters, with an arm around both their necks, and 
he explained to them in a very learned way, a great 
many points about the machine that they did not 
understand. His explanations were far from be- 
ing correct or true, but as he didn’t know that, nor 
the girls either, it really made no difference. 

At last Pompton drove away with the car, and 
they watched it disappear down the street, and then 
turned to greet Mr. Maynard as he entered. 

Marjorie went straight up to her father, and 
stood in front of him. 


A TRIAL TRIP 


31 


44 I do think you are the most wonderful Father 
in the whole world,” she said, eyeing him in a judi- 
cial manner. 

44 And the grandest ! ” said Kitty, snuggling 
herself in under his arm. 

44 And the tip-toppest ! ” declared King, grasp- 
ing his father’s other hand. 

“Well, well!” exclaimed Mr. Maynard, drop- 
ping into an armchair, 44 I am certainly catching 
some fine compliments! And I’d like to return 
them. I don’t mind confessing that I think you 
young people just about the highest class of goods 
in the market ! ” 

44 But we’re not as splendid as you are,” said 
Marjorie, thoughtfully; 44 because you do things 
for us, and we never do anything for you.” 

44 Oh, yes, you do,” returned her father ; 44 you 
do all I want you to, by just living, and growing, 
and trying to behave yourselves properly.” 

44 But we don’t always do that,” said Kitty, with 
a repentant air. 

44 You do, Kit,” said King, generously, 44 you’re 
always good. Mops and I are the ones that slip 
up.” 

44 It’s human nature to slip up occasionally,” 
said Mr. Maynard, 44 but I think on the whole my 
kiddies do pretty well. Now, as you know, we 
si?art to-morrow for Grandma Sherwood’s, and 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


while I’m not going to give you a lecture on the 
subject, I am going to ask you to behave pretty 
fairly well while you’re at her house. You know 
she’s not as young as she once was, and a 
lot of mischievous children may make her a 
great deal of trouble if they wish to, — or they 
can refrain from doing so. Need I say any 
more? ” 

44 Not another word, Father,” declared Mar- 
jorie; “I promise to be as good as pie, — custard 
pie ! ” 

44 And I’ll be as good as mince pie,” said King, 
44 you can’t beat that ! ” 

“Yes, I can,” said Kitty; “I shall be as good 
as lemon meringue pie, — with a high, fluffy 
meringue, and little browny wiggles all over the 
top.” 

44 You’ve struck it, Kit,” said her brother, ad- 
miringly ; 44 that is the best kind of pie, — and 
you’ll be the best of the Maynard bunch! Say, 
Kitty, doesn’t it hurt you to be so good? ” 

44 No,” said Kitty, placidly, 44 1 like it.” 

There was not much fun in teasing Kitty, she 
was too matter-of-fact, so King turned his atten- 
tions to Marjorie, and with apparent innocence 
kicked out his foot just in time for her to stumble 
over it. This led to a general scrimmage, in 
which two Maynards, two sofa-pillows, and a foot- 


A TRIAL TRIP 


33 


stool became very much tangled up, and Mr. May- 
nard and Kitty sat smiling indulgently at them, 
with the air of enjoying the performance and not 
caring to take part in it. 

Of course the dinner hour and all the hours until 
bedtime were occupied in conversation about the 
projected trip, and when at last the little May- 
nards were tucked into bed, their dreams still con- 
tinued to hover around the same subject. 

The next day proved to be most kindly dis- 
posed as to weather, and the brilliant May sun- 
shine sparkled on the big red car as it stood wait- 
ing for its passengers. 

There was more or less hurry and scurry of 
getting ready, but the elder Maynards were of 
systematic and methodical habits, so that really 
everything was ready ahead of time. Two trunks 
had been sent on by express to Grandma Sher- 
wood’s, and one large trunk which was to accom- 
pany them on their trip, was already fastened in 
place at the back of the car. 

The children all had new motor coats of pongee, 
which they could wear over other wraps if neces- 
sary. The girls also had fascinating little hoods 
of shirred silk, Marjorie’s being rose color, and 
Kitty’s blue. They greatly admired themselves 
and each other in these costumes, and Marjorie de- 


34 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


dared it gave her a trippy feeling just to look 
at them. 

They started at ten o’clock. Mrs. Maynard 
and Kitty sat back with Rosamond between them. 
Midget and King in the next two seats, and Mr. 
Maynard in front with the chauffeur. 

They went flying down the drive to a chorus of 
good-byes from the servants, who assembled to see 
them off, and who would take care of the house 
in their absence. 

As they whizzed across the street, and paused 
for a moment in front of Delight’s house, Delight 
and Miss Hart came running down to wave a good- 
bye, and their hands were full of flowers which 
they flung into the automobile all over its merry 
occupants. 

44 Good-bye, good-bye ! ” they called, for the 
Maynards had not stopped, but merely slowed 
down a little, and were now again speeding on 
their way. Marjorie and King stood up in their 
places, and waved handkerchiefs and flowers, and 
shouted good-bye until they could no longer be 
seen or heard. 

44 Now we are really started,” said Marjorie, 
settling back into her seat with an air of great 
satisfaction. 44 Having all these flowers thrown 
at us seems like a wedding trip or something. 
There’s not nearly so much wind to-day, and then, 


A TRIAL TRIP 


35 


with this hood, my hair doesn’t blow about so, any- 
way. Oh, Father, I’m awful hungry! Can’t we 
stop at the grocer’s and get some ginger-snaps 
and apples ? ” 

“ You’ve just had your breakfast, but I sup- 
pose automobile kiddies must have something to 
nibble on ! ” So a stop was made at the grocer’s, 
and a supply of ginger-snaps and apples was added 
to their other luggage. 

Mr. Hiller, the grocer, was very much interested 
in the motor party, and came out himself to wish 
them good speed. 

44 1 don’t know what Rockwell will do without 
the Maynard tribe,” he said ; 44 you youngsters 
keep things lively around town. And you’re go- 
ing to be away a month, you say. Well, well! ” 

44 Perhaps it’s a good thing to give the town a 
little rest, Mr. Hiller,” said Mr. Maynard, laugh- 
ing. 

44 No, sir; no, sir; them children of yours never 
does anything vicious. Full of mischief they may 
be, full of fun they may be, but never really 
naughty. No, no!” 

Mr. Maynard expressed a laughing apprecia- 
tion of these compliments, and then they started 
once more. 

44 Now we’re really off,” said King, 44 we won’t 
have to stop again.” 


36 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ Oh, I think most of the fun is stopping,” said 
Marjorie; “ I love to stop and then go on again. 
Perhaps we can get out and pick some wild flowers 
or wade in a brook.” 

“ Not to-day,” said her father, “ but some days 
you may do that to your heart’s content. The 
whole trip is going to be just one long picnic, and 
we’re going to get all the fun out of it we possibly 
can.” 

“ I think it’s delicious,” said Kitty, in her quiet 
way; “ I think it’s fun enough just to glide along 
like this, with the blue sky shining all over us, 
and the trees waving their boughs at us, and even 
the fences jig-jigging along at our side.” 

“ You’re so poetical, Kitty,” said Marjorie ; “ I 
love the blue sky and the green trees too, but just 
now I want to see a red apple and a brown ginger- 
snap ! ” 

“ Midget, I believe you could eat at any time,” 
said her mother, laughing. 

“ Yes, I could,” said Midget, contentedly, “ ’cept 
when I’ve just had enough. And I do feel like 
eating, but I feel like singing, too.” 

“ You can’t do both at once,” said her brother. 

“ No, but I can do first one and then the other. 
Now I’ll tell you, Father, what to do. You make 
a little song for us, while I eat this apple. A kind 
of a little motor song, you know.” 


A TRIAL TRIP 


37 


So while Marjorie ate her apple, and the other 
children engaged in the same pursuit, Mr. May- 
nard made a little song for them. 

This was a favorite game of the Maynards. 
Father Maynard had a knack of turning off verses, 
and they usually sang them to some well-known 
air, or perhaps made up a little crooning tune of 
their own. 

So when the apples were finished and the cores 
flung away, Mr. Maynard lined out his little song, 
and the children quickly learned it. 

After two or three attempts they were able to 
sing it correctly, and they stowed it away in their 
memory as one of their favorite songs, and at 
intervals throughout the day their young voices 
filled the air with these sentiments: 


“ Very happy the Maynards are ; 

Taking a tour in their motor car 
Gaily to Grandma’s lickety-split 
Marjorie, Rosamond, Kingdon, and Kit ; 
Mothery, fathery, also along, — 

Gaily we sing our motor car song ! 
Hooray, hooray ! 

For our holiday 
May for the Maynards ! 

Maynards for May ! ” 


CHAPTER IV 


VISITING A CAMP 

Rockwell was soon left far behind, and the May- 
nards’ car flew along the country road, now pass- 
ing through a bit of woods, and now through a 
little town, or again crossing a picturesque brook. 

The children were delighted with the new ex- 
perience, and chatted all at once, about the road- 
side sights. 

Pompton, the English chauffeur, though he said 
little or nothing, was secretly amazed at the gaiety 
and volubility of the young people. The children 
were allowed to take turns sitting in the front seat, 
and, as was their nature, they talked rapidly and 
steadily to the somewhat taciturn driver. 

44 What a funny name you have, Pompton,” said 
Marjorie, as she sat beside him; 44 at least it seems 
funny to me, because I never heard it before.” 

44 It’s a good old English name, Miss,” he re- 
turned, a little gruffly, 44 and never been dishon- 
ored, as I know of.” 

44 Oh, I think it’s a very nice name,” said Mar- 
jorie, quickly, for she had had no intention of 
38 


VISITING A CAMP 


39 


being unpleasantly critical, “ only I think it’s a 
funny name. You see Pompton sounds so much 
like pumpkin.” 

“ Do you think so, Miss? ” 

“ Oh, well, it doesn’t matter about a name, any- 
way. Tell me about your people. Have you any 
little boys and girls ? ” 

“ No, Miss ; I never was married, Miss. And I 
ain’t overly fond of children.” 

“Really, aren’t you, Pompton? Well, you’ll 
have to begin being fond of them, because you see, 
us Maynard children just can’t stand anybody 
around who isn’t fond of us. Though of course 
we’ve never tried, for everybody who has lived with 
us has always been terribly fond of us.” 

“ Maybe it’ll be a pleasant change then, Miss, 
to try another sort.” Pompton’s eyes twinkled 
good-naturedly as he said this, and Marjorie in- 
stinctively recognized that he was trying to joke. 

“ Ah, you’re fond of us already, Pompton, and 
you needn’t say you’re not ! It’s a funny thing,” 
she went on, confidentially, “ but everybody loves 
us Maynards, — and yet we’re such a bad lot.” 

“ A bad lot, Miss ? ” 

“ Well, full of the old scratch, you know ; always 
cutting up jinks. Do you know what jinks are, 
Pompton? ” 

“No, Miss; what are they?” 


40 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ Why they’re just jinks; something to cut up, 
you know.” 

“ Cut up, Miss ? ” 

“ Oh, Pompton, you’re just like a parrot ! You 
just repeat what I say! Don’t you know any- 
thing? ” 

“ Very little, Miss.” 

But as they rode along, and Marjorie asked her 
interminable string of questions about the car, or 
about the trees or flowers they were passing, or 
about sundry roadside matters, she found that 
Pompton was a very well-informed man, indeed, 
as well as being kind and obliging in answering 
questions. 

As they spun along a bit of straight road, 
Marjorie saw, some distance ahead, a girl sitting 
on a large stone by the roadside. The girl’s face 
was so weary and pained-looking that Marjorie 
felt a sudden thrill of pity for her, and as a sec- 
ond glance showed that the girl was lame, she im- 
pulsively begged Pompton to stop a moment that 
they might speak to her. 

The chauffeur turned around to see if the order 
were corroborated by the older people, and Mrs. 
Maynard said, “ Yes, Pompton, let us stop and 
see what the poor girl wants.” 

So the car stopped, and Marjorie impetuously 
jumped out, and ran to speak to the girl, who 


VISITING A CAMP 


41 


seemed ill and suffering. Mr. Maynard joined 
them at once, and they listened to the girl’s story. 

She said her name was Minnie Meyer, and that 
she had to walk to the neighboring town to buy 
some provisions for her mother. But being lame 
she had become so tired that she sat down to rest 
by the way. 

“How far have you to go, child? ” asked Mr. 
Maynard, kindly. 

“ I have already walked a mile, sir, and it’s two 
miles more to Pelton, where I must go. I have 
often walked the distance, but my foot is very bad 
just now, and it is hard going. I have been ill, 
and I am not yet very strong.” 

“ I should think not ! ” exclaimed King, who 
had jumped out to see what was going on. “ Look 
here, Father, we’re going directly to Pelton; it is 
a straight road, and I can’t miss the way. You 
let this girl take my place in the car, and I’ll 
walk.” 

“ Now that’s good of you, King,” said his father 
with an approving glance at the boy, “ for this 
poor child is pretty well tired out. How can you 
get home again, Minnie? ” 

4 6 Oh, sir, I shall have a ride home. A neighbor 
of ours will take me; but I have to walk over to 
Pelton and get my things by the time he’s ready 
to start.” 


42 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ And what time does he start for home? ” 

“ About two o’clock, sir.” 

The child’s face was very white, and her eyes 
were large and dark. Though probably no older 
than Marjorie, she looked careworn and troubled 
beyond her years. 

“ You are a good boy, King,” his mother called 
out from the car, “ and I think, Ed, we had better 
take the girl with us. Kingdon won’t mind a two 
miles’ walk, I know, when it is in such a good 
cause.” 

“ I’m going with King,” announced Mar j orie ; 
“ I shan’t mind the walk, either, and it will be fun 
for both of us to be together, while it would be 
awful lonesome for King all alone.” 

“ Good for you, Mopsy Midget ! ” cried King, 
“ you’re a trump ! Come on, we’ll get there be- 
fore the car does.” King grasped his sister’s 
hand, and they set off merrily at a good pace along 
the straight road to Pelton. 

Meantime, Mr. Maynard had assisted the lame 
girl into the car, and Kitty tucked rugs and shawls 
around her to make her comfortable. 

Minnie Meyer was both awestruck and delighted. 
She had never been in an automobile before, and 
it had all happened so quickly she scarcely realized 
her good fortune. 

“ I think you must all be angels,” she said ; 


VISITING A CAMP 


43 


“ and I’m sorry the young lady and gentleman 
have to walk so far, and all just for me.” 

“ But they’re better able to walk than you are,” 
said practical Kitty. 

“ That may be, Miss, but it seems queer for the 
likes of me to be riding in their place. My! but 
it goes fast ! ” 

The car passed King and Marjorie, who waved 
their hands gaily, and watched it rapidly dis- 
appear along the road in front of them. 

“ I’m glad we’re doing a deed of charity, Mid- 
get,” said her brother, 44 for if we weren’t I 
shouldn’t relish this long walk very much.” 

44 Now, King, don’t go and spoil your noble 
deed by growling about it ! It was lovely of you 
to let that girl ride in your place, but if you’re 
going to kick about walking, you’ll spoil it all.” 

44 I’m not kicking. And anyway, Mops, you 
were the noble one yourself. You walked just so 
I shouldn’t be lonesome.” 

44 ’Course I did ! What’s lots of fun for two 
is awful poky for one. Come on, I’ll race you to 
that big sticking-out tree ! ” 

They flew along the road with their heels kick- 
ing out behind, and though King reached the tree 
first, he was only a few steps ahead of Marjorie, 
who came up panting, and threw herself on the 
grass by his side. 


44 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ We mustn’t do that again,” she said, “ it 
makes us too much out of breath, and we can’t 
walk afterward. Now let’s rest a minute, and then 
walk on just middling fast, — because it’s a long 
way yet. What time do you suppose we’ll get 
there? ” 

“ Pomp said if we’d walk straight along we 
ought to get to the inn by half-past twelve. They 
won’t have lunch till we get there.” 

“You bet they won’t! Do you know where 
the inn is ? ” 

“Well, I’ve never been there, but when we get 
to Pelton I rather guess we can find the inn! 
Come on. Mops, if you’re rested, we’d better get 
a move on ! ” 

Then they trudged on together, finding the way 
very pleasant, and many things to interest them 
as they passed along. 

The road was a public highway, and there were 
many motor cars and much other traffic. 

But as the children kept on a grassy path by the 
side of the road they were in no danger, and there 
was no possibility of losing their way. 

“ It’s just a matter of keeping at it,” said 
King, “ but it does seem longer than I thought. 
We’re not halfway yet.” 

“ How do you know ? ” 

“ ’Cause Pomp said when we came to the sign- 


VISITING A CAMP 


45 


board pointing to Mossville we’d be halfway, and 
we haven’t come to that yet.” 

“ What makes you call him Pomp? ” 

“Oh, just for short; and besides he’s kind of 
pompous, you know, — sort of stuffy and English.” 

“ Yes, he is. I like him, though, and I think 
he’s going to like us, but he doesn’t understand us 
yet. I hope Father will ask that lame girl to 
lunch with us. I think she looked hungry.” 

“ She looked awful poor, and I s’pose poor folks 
are always hungry. It must be awful to be always 
hungry, Mops ! ” 

“ Well, I’m ’most always hungry myself.” 

“ Oh, that isn’t real hunger; that’s just wanting 
something to eat. Hello, here’s the Mossville sign 
now! See it?” 

“ Yes ; so now we must be halfway. I’m not 
tired, are you ? ” 

“ No, not a bit. I’d like a drink of water, 
though. Perhaps we’ll come to a brook.” 

But they walked on considerably further with- 
out seeing any brook, or even a farmhouse where 
they might stop for a drink of water. But when 
they were about half a mile from Pel ton, King 
saw a little bridge off toward the right, and ex- 
claimed, “ That bridge must be over water of some 
sort. If you want to, Midget, we can go over and 
see if it’s clean enough to drink.” 


46 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Come on, then ; it won’t take long, and I’m 
’most choked to death.” 

They walked across an intervening field, and 
came to the little bridge which did cross a small 
but clear and sparkling brook. 

44 What can we drink out of? ” asked Midget. 

“ Have to drink out of our hands, I guess ; 
wish we had a cup or something. Oh, look at 
that man ! ” 

Midget looked in the direction King pointed, and 
saw a man seated on the ground, busily working 
at something which seemed to be made of long 
rushes of reeds. 

44 He’s making a basket,” cried King, greatly 
interested. 44 Let’s go and look at him.” 

They trotted over to the man, and King said, 
politely, 44 Is that a basket you’re making, sir?” 

44 Yes,” came the answer in a gruff voice, and 
when the man looked up at them, they saw he was a 
st range-looking person indeed. His complexion 
was dark, his coarse black hair rather long, and 
his black eyes had a shrewd expression, but were 
without kindliness. 44 What do you want?” he 
said, still in his gruff voice. 

44 We don’t want anything p’ticular,” said Mar- 
jorie, who did not wish to be intrusive; 44 we did 
want a drink of water out of the brook, but we 
had nothing to drink from, and then we saw you 


VISITING A CAMP 47 

building a basket, and we just came over to look 
at you. You don’t mind, do you? ” 

“No, I don’t mind,” and the man’s voice was 
a little less gruff as he looked at Marjorie’s pretty 
smiling face. Then he gave her another look, 
somewhat more scrutinizing, and then he looked 
again at King. “ You want a drink of water, do 
you ? ” and the look of interest in his round black 
eyes seemed to become intensified. “ Well, I’ll tell 
you what to do ; you go right straight along that 
little path through the grass, and after a few 
steps, you’ll find some people, and they’ll give you 
a drink of water with pleasure, and a nice cup to 
drink it out of.” 

“ Is it far? ” asked Marjorie, for she couldn’t 
see any signs of habitation, and did not wish to 
delay too long. 

“No; ’tain’t a dozen steps. Just behind that 
clump of trees yonder; you can’t miss it.” 

“ A farmhouse, I suppose,” said King. 

“ Well, not just exactly a farmhouse,” said the 
man, “ but you go on, you youngsters, and who- 
ever you see when you get there, tell ’em Jim sent 
you.” 

“ We will; and thank you, Jim,” said Marjorie, 
suddenly remembering her manners. 

“ You’re welcome,” said the man, and again his 
voice was gruff as at first. 


48 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ Somehow I don’t like it, Mops,” said King, 
who had a troubled look on his face as they walked 
swiftly along the path indicated. 

“ Don’t like what ? ” 

“ His sending us over here. And I don’t like 
him; he didn’t look right.” 

“ I thought he was very kind to tell us about the 
farmhouse, and if his voice is sort of gruff, I s’pose 
he can’t help that.” 

“ It isn’t that exactly ; but I think he’s a, — 


“ A what? ” 

“ Never mind ; here we are at the place. Why, 
Mops, it isn’t a house at all! It’s a tent, — a lot 
of tents.” 

“ So it is ! It must be an encampment. Do 
you think there are soldiers here ? ” 

“Soldiers? No! I only wish they were sol- 
diers.” 

As King was speaking, a young woman came 
walking toward them, smiling in an ingratiating 
way. Like the man, Jim, she was dark-haired and 
dark-skinned. Her black eyes flashed, and her 
smiling red lips showed very white teeth as she 
spoke kindly to the children. 

“ Come in,” she said, in a wheedling voice ; 
“ come in ; I love little boys and girls. What do 
you want? ” 


VISITING A CAMP 


49 


Marjorie began to say, “We want a drink of 
water,” when King pinched her elbow as a sign to 
be quiet, and he spoke to the woman himself. “We 
don’t want anything,” he said, “ we’re just pass- 
ing by on our way to Pelton. Good-morning.” 

Grasping Marjorie’s arm he turned to go away, 
but the woman stopped him, saying, “ Oh, don’t 
go so quickly; come in and rest a moment, and I 
will give you a drink of milk, and then you can 
go on to Pelton.” 

“ Yes, let’s do that, King,” said Marjorie, look- 
ing at her brother, amazed at his ungracious ac- 
tions. 

But King persisted in his determination. “ No, 
thank you,” he said to the woman in a decided 
way ; “ you’re very kind, but we don’t care for 
any milk, and we must go right on to Pelton.” 

“ And I say you must stay right here,” said the 
woman, in much sterner tones than she had used 
before, and taking the children each by an arm, 
she pushed them ahead of her inside of the largest 
tent. 


CHAPTER V 


HELD CAPTIVE 

Then King’s fears were realized. He had sus- 
pected these people were gypsies, and now he dis- 
covered that they were. Inside the tent were three 
or four men and women, all of the dark, gypsy 
type, and wearing the strange, bright-colored gar- 
ments characteristic of their tribe. They did not 
seem ill-disposed toward the visitors, but welcomed 
them cordially, and one of the women went at 
once for a pitcher of milk, and brought it, with 
two glasses, which she set on the table. 

King was not exactly frightened, for they all 
seemed pleasant and kind enough, but he couldn’t 
help remembering how gypsies were credited with 
the habit of stealing children, and holding them 
for ransom. 44 But only babies,” he thought to 
himself ; 44 1 don’t believe they ever steal such big 
kids as Marjorie and me.” 

King was fifteen, and tall for his age, and as 
he looked at Marjorie he realized that she was a 
big girl, too, and he felt sure they were beyond 
the age of being kidnapped. But as he noted the 
50 


HELD CAPTIVE 


51 


furtive glances which were cast at them by the 
gypsies, he again felt alarmed, and glanced at Mar- 
jorie to see if her thoughts were like his own. 

But they were not. Marjorie was chatting 
gaily with the good-looking young woman who had 
brought her into the tent, and she was accepting 
an invitation to have a glass of milk and a cracker. 

As an old gypsy woman poured the milk from 
the pitcher into the glass, she turned her back 
to Marjorie, but King’s alert eyes could see her 
shaking a small portion of white powder into the 
milk. 

Like a flash it came to King what it all meant! 
They were kidnappers, these wicked gypsies, and 
they meant to put some drug in the milk that the 
children drank, so they would go to sleep, and 
then the kidnappers would carry them away ! 

King thought rapidly. He couldn’t let Mar- 
jorie drink that milk, — and yet if he made a fuss 
about it, they could easily overpower him. He 
determined to use strategy. 

“ Let me pass the glass to my sister,” he said, 
jumping up, and going to take the glass from the 
old woman who had poured it. Unsuspectingly, 
she let him take it, but as he turned, he stumbled, 
purposely, against the table leg, and spilled all the 
milk on the ground. 

“ Oh, excuse me,” he said, politely. “ Now we 


52 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


shall have to go without a drink of milk! But 
we are just as much obliged, and we bid you good- 
morning. Come, Midget.” 

Marjorie was at a loss to understand King’s ac- 
tions, but she knew her brother well enough to know 
that his tone and his look meant that something 
very serious was the matter, and she was quite 
ready to obey him without knowing why. 

But though he grasped her arm, and endeavored 
to lead her out of the tent, they were suddenly 
stopped. Two stalwart men who had been sitting 
in shadow at the back of the tent came forward, 
and grasping the children’s shoulders, pushed them 
back into their seats rather roughly. 

“You set down there!” said one of the men, 
“ and don’t you move till you’re told to ! We ain’t 
decided just what to do with you yet, and when 
we see fit, we’ll tell you, and not till then, so you 
just keep still! ” 

Marjorie suddenly sensed the situation. These 
people were enemies, not friends ! She understood 
King’s efforts to get her away, and she remem- 
bered, too, his misgivings as they were on their way 
across the field. 

Moreover, it was she who had insisted on com- 
ing, and so she felt, in a way, responsible for 
what had happened to them. She jumped to her 
feet as soon as the man let go of her shoulder, and 



“I WILL NOT KEEP STILL!” 


mm 

















































































































HELD CAPTIVE 


53 


cried, with flashing eyes, “ I will not keep still ! 
What do you mean by treating me like that? 
Don’t you know who I am? We’re Maynards! 
We’re Edward Maynard’s children, — and every- 
body loves the Maynards ! ” 

“ Oh, they do, do they ! ” said the man who had 
spoken before. “ Then that’s a mighty good 
reason why we should keep you here a little while.” 

“Keep us here! ” stormed Marjorie, not at all 
realizing that they were being kidnapped, but 
merely thinking these people were playing some 
sort of a joke upon them. “ Why should you keep 
us here? We want to go on.” 

“ You want to go on, do you? ” And the man 
fairly snarled at them ; “ well, you can’t go on, and 
you may as well understand that! Didn’t Jim 
send you ? ” 

“Yes, Jim sent us,” said Marjorie, remember- 
ing what the man who was weaving the basket had 
said. 

“ Then if Jim sent you, you’re here to stay. 
And as it’s just impossible for you to get away, 
there’s small use in your trying! So you may as 
well make the best of it, and if you don’t want 
your bread and milk you needn’t eat it, but if you 
do, you can have it. There, now, I’m speaking 
fair by you, and you may as well behave your- 
selves.” 


54 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“Speaking fair by us!” exclaimed Marjorie, 
who was as yet more indignant than frightened. 
“ Do you call it speaking fair by us to tell us that 
we must stay here when we want to go on! You 
are bad, wicked men ! ” 

“ Yes, little Miss,” was the answer, with a shout 
of laughter, “we are bad, wicked men! Now 
what are you going to do about it? You don’t 
fancy for a minute that you can get away, do 
you? ” 

This silenced Marjorie, for there was no answer 
to such a question. Her rage had spent itself in 
her impetuous speech, and she knew of course that 
two children could not get away from this band of 
villains if they were not allowed to do so. But she 
did not cry. Her feelings were too wrought up 
for that. She sat where they had placed her, and 
tried bravely to conceal the fright and fear that 
were every moment growing stronger within her. 
She gave one imploring glance at King, and he 
came over and sat beside her. He took her hand 
in a tight clasp, implying that whatever happened 
they would face it together. 

“ Keep ’em there for the present,” growled the 
man who seemed to be the spokesman, and then he 
and the other man went away, leaving the children 
in care of the three gypsy women. 

Although apparently the women paid little at- 


HELD CAPTIVE 


55 


tention to their young prisoners, King and Midget 
could easily see that the eyes of their jailers were 
ever alert, and watching their slightest movement. 
Had they tried to cut and run, they would have 
been caught before they reached the door. But 
no heed was paid when they whispered together, 
and so they were able to hold a long conversation 
which was unheard, and even unnoticed by the 
others. 

“ You know, Mops, what has happened? ” whis- 
pered King. 

“ No, I don’t ; what do they want of us? ” 

66 Why, we’re kidnapped and held for ransom. 
Those men have probably gone out now to send 
letters to Father about the ransom money.” 

“ Oh, then Father ’ll pay it, and we’ll get away.” 

“ It isn’t so easy as that. They have lots of 
fussing back and forth. We may be here a long 
time. I say, Mops, you’re a brick not to cry.” 

“ I’m too mad to cry. The idea of their keep- 
ing us here like this! It’s outrageous! Why, 
King, by this time we would have been in Pelton. 
Just think how worried Father and Mother must 
be!” 

“ Don’t think about that, Mops, or you will 
cry sure. And I will, too! Let’s think how to 
get away.” 

But thinking was of little use, as there was no 


56 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


way to get away but to run out at the door, and 
an attempt at that would be such certain failure 
that it was not worth trying. 

So the children sat there in dumb misery, silently 
watching the gypsy women as they moved about 
preparing the mid-day meal. 

Occasionally they spoke, and their manner and 
words were kindly, but King and Midget could 
not bring themselves to respond in the same way. 

“ King,” whispered Marjorie, “ how far do you 
suppose we are from the road? ” 

“ Too far to run there, if that’s what you mean. 
We’d be caught before we started,” was the whis- 
pered reply. 

“ That isn’t what I mean ; but how far are we? ” 

“Not very far, Midget; after we crossed the 
little bridge, the path to this place was sort of 
parallel to the road.” 

“ Well, King, I’ve got an idea. Don’t say any- 
thing, and don’t stop me.” 

With a stretch and a yawn as of great weari- 
ness, Marjorie slowly rose. Immediately the three 
women started toward her. “ You sit still! ” said 
one, sharply. 

“ Mayn’t I walk about the room, if I promise 
not to go out the door? ” said Marjorie; “ I’m so 
cramped sitting still.” 

“ Move around if you want to,” said the young- 


HELD CAPTIVE 


57 


est of the women, a little more gently ; 66 but there’s 
no use your trying to run away,” and she wagged 
her head ominously. 

“ Honest, I won’t try to run away,” and Mar- 
jorie’s big, dark eyes looked gravely at her captor. 

The women said nothing more, and Marjorie 
wandered about the tent in an apparently aimless 
manner. But after a time she came near to a small 
slit in the side of the tent that served as a sort of 
window, and here she paused and examined some 
beads that hung near by. Then choosing a mo- 
ment when the women were most attentive to their 
household duties, she put her head out through the 
window and yelled. Now Marjorie Maynard’s 
yell was something that a Comanche Indian might 
be proud of. Blessed with strong, healthy lungs, 
and being by nature fond of shouting, she pos- 
sessed an ability to scream which was really un- 
usual. 

As her blood-curdling shouts rent the air, the 
three women were so stupefied that for a moment 
they could say or do nothing. This gave Mar- 
jorie additional time, and she made the most of 
it. Her entire lung power spent itself in succes- 
sive shrieks more than a dozen times, before she 
was finally dragged away from the window by the 
infuriated gypsy women. 

Marjorie turned upon them, unafraid. 


58 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 I told you I wouldn’t try to run away,” she 
said, 44 and neither I didn’t. But I had a right 
to yell, and if anybody heard me, I hope he’ll 
come right straight here! You are bad, wicked 
women ! ” 

The child’s righteous indignation had its effect 
on the women, and they hesitated, not knowing 
exactly what to do with this little termagant. 

And strange to say, Marjorie’s ruse had suc- 
ceeded. 

For when the Maynards reached Pelton, and 
had found the inn where they were to lunch, Pomp- 
ton, the chauffeur, had expressed himself as un- 
willing to sit there quietly and await the arrival 
of King and Marjorie. 

44 The poor children will be done out,” he said 
to Mr. Maynard, “ and by your leave, sir, I’ll 
just take the car, and run back a few rods and 
pick them up.” 

44 That’s good of you, Pompton,” said Mr. May- 
nard, appreciatively. 44 They can’t be far away 
now, but they’ll be glad of a lift.” 

So Pompton turned the car about, and started 
back along the road he had just come. To his 
surprise, he did not meet the children as soon as 
he had expected, and as he continued his route 
without seeing them, he began to be really alarmed. 
He passed the halfway sign, and went nearly to 


HELD CAPTIVE 59 

the place where he had left them and had taken 
in the lame girl. 

“ There’s something happened to them,” he said 
to himself. “ My word! I knew those children 
ought not to be left to themselves! They’re too 
full of mischief. Like as not they’ve trailed off 
into the woods, and how can I ever find them? ” 

Wondering what he had better do, Pompton 
turned the car around, and slowly went back to- 
ward Pelton. At every crossroad or side path into 
the woods he paused and shouted, but heard no 
response. When at last he came near the place 
where the children had really turned off toward 
the brook, he stopped and looked about. Seeing 
smoke issuing from among the trees at a little 
distance, he thought, “ That’s a gypsy camp. 
Now wouldn’t it be just like those youngsters to 
trail in there? Anyway it’s the most likely place, 
and I’m going to have a look.” 

Leaving his car by the side of the road, Pompton 
struck into the field, and soon came to the little 
bridge just beyond which the old basket-weaver 
still sat. 

“Have you seen anything of two children?” 
Pompton inquired, civilly. 

“ No,” growled the man, looking up and frown- 
ing a little. 

“ Well, I’m fairly sure they came in here from 


60 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


the road about half an hour ago. Perhaps you 
didn’t notice them. I’ll just take a look round.” 
He started in the direction of the camp, but the 
man called him back. 

“ I tell you no children have been near here,” 
he said, in a voice slightly less surly. 66 If they 
had, they’d have had to cross this bridge, and I 
couldn’t miss seeing them. I’ve been here two 
hours.” 

This seemed conclusive, and Pompton had no 
reason to think the man was not telling the truth. 
But he was without doubt a gypsy, and Pompton 
had small respect for the veracity of the gypsy. 
He waited a few moments, pretending to be inter- 
ested in the man’s basketry, but really considering 
whether to insist on going on to the camp hidden 
in the trees, or whether to believe the man’s state- 
ment. 

And it was at this moment that Marjorie’s 
shrieks rang out. 

“ Good heavens ! ” cried Pompton. “ What is 
that? ” 

The basket-weaver neither heard nor answered 
him, for the shrieks continued, and Pompton set 
off at a run in the direction whence they came. 
He was not quite sure it was Marjorie’s voice, but 
there was certainly somebody in distress, and 
Pompton was of a valiant nature. 


HELD CAPTIVE 


61 


The smoke issuing above the trees was sufficient 
guide, and his flying steps soon brought him to 
the encampment. Flinging open, indeed almost 
tearing down the flapping door of the tent, he 
strode inside. 

“ What’s the matter here P ” he began, but he 
could get no further, for with a glad cry the two 
Maynard children flung themselves into his out- 
stretched arms. 


CHAPTER VI 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 

Aside from his threatening face, red with rage, 
and stormy with indignation, Pompton’s terrifying 
aspect was increased by the chauffeur’s costume 
which he wore. His goggles were pushed up on 
his brow, but his eyes darted vengeance, and the 
three gypsy women were completely cowed at the 
sight of him. 

44 You shall pay for this outrage ! ” he exclaimed ; 
44 and don’t think you will be let down easy ! Kid- 
napping is a crime that is well punished, and your 
punishment shall be to the full ! I shall take these 
children away now, but don’t think you can escape ! 
I will see to that ! Where are your men folks ? ” 

Pompton was a large man, more than six feet 
high, and heavy in proportion, and as he towered 
above the frightened gypsy women, they could find 
no words to answer him. 

44 I’ll find them for myself! ” he exclaimed, and 
taking the children by either hand, he hurried them 
out of the tent. 

As Pompton had surmised, the men had run 
62 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 


63 


away to the woods, and hidden themselves, for no 
trace of them could be seen. The old basket- 
maker, too, had disappeared, and there was nothing 
to prevent their departure. 

“Miss Marjorie, you’re a wonder!” Pompton 
exclaimed, as they crossed the little bridge and 
made for the road. “ Now, how did you think to 
shout the very lungs out of you like that ? ” 

“ It was the only thing to do, Pompton ; they 
wouldn’t let us run away, so there was nothing to 
do but holler. My ! but I’m glad you came ! ” 

“ Me, too ! ” cried King. “ I felt awful to sit 
there and not do anything to rescue Mops, but I 
couldn’t think of a thing to do. I never thought 
of yelling to beat the band ! ” 

“ Of course you didn’t, King,” said Marjorie. 
“ A boy wouldn’t do that. And, anyway, you 
can’t screech like I can.” 

“ I didn’t suppose anybody could, Miss Mar- 
jorie; I’m sure such screams were never heard be- 
fore, outside of Bedlam ! ” 

“ Well, we’re safe now, anyway,” cried Mar- 
jorie, skipping along gaily by Pompton’s side; 
“ and here’s our dear, blessed car ! Oh, King, I’m 
so glad we’re safe ! ” 

In a reaction of joy, Marjorie threw her arms 
around her brother’s neck, and the tears came to 
her eyes. 


64 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


v - 44 There, there, Mops,” and King patted her 
shoulders, while there was a suggestion of emotion 
in his own voice ; 44 it’s all right now ! Hop in, old 
girl!” 

44 Yes, hop in, both of you,” said Pompton , 44 and 
I’ll get you back to Pelton pretty quick, and then 
I’ll set somebody on the track of those villains. 
They’ll not get away ! ” 

The trip to Pelton took but a short time, for 
Pompton drove as fast as the law allowed. But 
even so, they found a very much alarmed group 
waiting for them on the veranda of the little inn. 

44 Where have you been? ” exclaimed Mrs. May- 
nard, as Marjorie flung her arms around her 
mother’s neck, and burst into violent sobs. The 
realization that she was safe brought a nervous 
reaction, and though she had been plucky and 
brave in the hour of danger, she now collapsed 
with emotion. 

44 I’ll tell you all about it,” said King, grasping 
his father’s hands. 44 Midget was the bravest, 
pluckiest girl, and she saved both our lives.” 

44 What ! ” cried Mr. Maynard, 44 have you been 
in danger ? ” 

Marjorie stopped her sobs a moment, and lifted 
her head from her mother’s shoulder. 

44 It was P-Pompton saved us ! I didn’t do any 
saving, — I only s-screeched ! ” 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 


65 


<£ And you screeched good and plenty, Miss Mar- 
jorie,” said the chauffeur, “ which was what saved 
the day; and, Mr. Maynard, by your leave, I’ll 
take the car a minute, to see if there’s anybody 
in authority in this village. I’ve a matter to put 
in their hands.” 

Without waiting for further explanation, Pomp- 
ton whizzed away in the big car to find the public 
officials, and set them on trail of the gypsies. For 
though unsuccessful, their base attempt at kidnap- 
ping ought not to go unpunished. 

Kingdon told a straightforward story of all that 
had happened. Unlike Marjorie, he was not over- 
come by emotion, and though somewhat excited 
after the experience they had had, he gave a clear 
and direct account of it all. 

Mrs. Maynard held Marjorie closer as she heard 
of the danger they had been in, and Mr. Maynard 
laid his hand on the shoulder of his tall son, and 
heartily exonerated him from all blame in the mat- 
ter. 

“ I suppose,” King said, a little dubiously, “ we 
ought not to have gone on to the camp ; but Mops, 
— I mean, we were both thirsty, — and we thought 
it was a farmhouse.” 

“ Of course you did,” said Mrs. Maynard ; “ you 
did nothing wrong whatever.” 

“ I did,” said Midget, penitently ; “ after we 


66 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


passed the horrid basket-man, King sort of thought 
he was a gypsy, and he thought we’d better turn 
back, but I insisted on going on.” 

“ Nothing of the sort ! ” exclaimed King. 
66 Mops isn’t a bit to blame ! I did think maybe 
the man was a gypsy, — and I ought to have in- 
sisted on going back.” 

“ Well, well,” said Mr. Maynard, “ don’t strive 
so hard for the honor of being to blame. It’s all 
over now, and for the present let’s forget it, while 
we eat our luncheon, because it might interfere 
with our digestion. We’re truly thankful to have 
you back, and we’re going to show our thankful- 
ness by not worrying or lamenting over what 
might have been.” 

Mr. Maynard’s gaiety, though it was really a 
little forced, had a good effect on the others. For, 
had he taken a melancholy attitude, they were quite 
ready to follow suit. 

As it was, they all cheered up, and with bright 
faces followed Mr. Maynard to the dining-room. 
Kitty slipped her hand in Marjorie’s as they went 
along. She had said little while the story was 
being told, but as Marjorie well knew, silence with 
Kitty was always indicative of deep emotion. 

The inn, though modern, was copied after a 
quaint old plan, and the low-ceiled, raftered dining- 
room greatly pleased the children. There were 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 


67 


seats along the wall, — something like church pews, 
— with long tables in front of them. Mr. May- 
nard had ordered a dainty and satisfying luncheon, 
and Marjorie and King soon found that thrilling 
experiences improve the appetite. 

Led by Mr. Maynard, the table talk was gay, 
light, and entertaining; and though Mrs. May- 
nard could not quite play up to this key, yet she 
did her best, and carefully hid the tremors that 
shook her as she looked at her two older children. 

44 What became of Minnie Meyer? ” asked Mar- 
jorie, suddenly, for in the stress of circumstances 
she had almost forgotten the lame girl. 

44 1 tried my best to persuade her to lunch with 
us,” said Mrs. Maynard, 44 but she would not do 
so. She was very shy and timid, and though very 
glad to have the ride, she was unwilling to let us 
do more for her. She had many errands to at- 
tend to, and she was sure of a ride home, so she 
said we need not worry about her.” 

44 I’m glad she had the ride,” said Marjorie, 
thoughtfully ; 44 and of course it wasn’t her fault 
that the morning turned out as it did.” 

44 No, it wasn’t,” said King, 44 and it wasn’t our 
fault either! It wasn’t anybody’s fault; it just 
happened.” 

44 And now it happens that it’s all over,” said 
his father, still insistently cheerful, 44 and the 


68 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


incident is closed, and it’s past history, and 
we’ve all forgotten it. Have some more chicken, 
King? ” 

44 Yes,” said King, 44 these forgotten experi- 
ences make a fellow terribly hungry ! ” 

The subject of the morning’s disaster was not 
again referred to, and Mr. Maynard triumphantly 
succeeded in his determination to eliminate all 
thought of it. 

By two o’clock Pompton was at the door with 
the car, and they started gaily off to continue their 
journey. 

Mr. Maynard sat in front with the chauffeur, 
and if they indulged in some whispered conversa- 
tion it was not audible to those in the tonneau. 

Midget and King themselves had quite recovered 
their good spirits, and were ready to enjoy the 
ride through the country. 

They went rather fast, as they had started a 
bit later than they intended, but not too fast to 
enjoy the scenery or the interesting scenes on 
either side. 

On they went, through towns and villages, past 
woods and meadows, and up and down moderately 
high hills. As they neared Morristown, where 
Grandma Sherwood lived, the hills were higher and 
the views more picturesque. 

It was not yet dusk when they reached Grandma 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 


69 


Sherwood’s house, and they found the wide gate 
hospitably open for them. They swung into the 
driveway, and in another moment they saw 
Grandma and Uncle Steve on the veranda, waiting 
to welcome them. 

The impetuous Maynard children tumbled out 
of the car all at once, and fairly swarmed upon 
their relatives. 

“ Which is which? ” cried Uncle Steve. “ Kitty 
has grown as big as Marjorie was, — and Marjorie 
has grown as big as King was, — and King has 
grown as big as, — as a house ! 99 

“ And me growed ! ” cried Rosamond, not want- 
ing to be left out of the comparison. 

66 You’re the biggest of all!” exclaimed Uncle 
Steve, catching the baby up and seating her on 
his shoulder, so she could look down on all the 
others. 

“ Yes, me biggest of all,” she declared, con- 
tentedly, as she wound her fat arms around Uncle 
Steve’s neck ; “ now me go see schickens ! ” 

“ Not just now, Rosy Posy,” said her mother, 
“ let’s all go in the house and see what we can 
find there.” 

Easily diverted, the baby went contentedly with 
her mother, but the mention of chickens had roused 
in the other children a desire to see the farmyard 
pets, and King said : “ Come on, Mops and Kit, 


70 MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

let’s us go and see the chickens ; come on, Uncle 
Steve.” 

“ Eliza first! ” cried Marjorie, remembering the 
old cook’s friendliness toward them all ; “ come 
on ! ” 

Following Midget’s lead, the trio went tearing 
through the house to the kitchen. 

Uncle Steve paused in the library where the 
others were, and said to his sister, “ They’re the 
same Maynard children, Helen, if they are a year 
older. We enjoyed Marjorie last summer, and I 
know we’ll enjoy Kitty this year, — but how you 
can live with them all at once I can’t under- 
stand ! ” 

“ It’s habit,” said Mrs. Maynard, smiling, “ you 
know, Steve, you can get used to ’most anything.” 

“ It seems to agree with you, Helen, at any 
rate,” said Grandma Sherwood, looking at her 
daughter’s pink cheeks and bright eyes. 

Meanwhile, the younger Maynards had reached 
the kitchen, and were dancing round Eliza, with 
shouts of glee. 

“ Are you glad to see me again, Eliza P ” asked 
Marjorie, flinging herself into the arms of the 
stout Irishwoman. 

“ Glad is it, Miss Midget? Faith, I’m thot glad 
I kin hardly see ye fer gladness ! Ye’ve grow’d, — 
but I do say not so much as I expicted! But 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 71 


Masther King, now he’s as high as the church 
shpire ! And as fer Miss Kitty, — arrah, but she’s 
the dumplin’ darlin’ ! Stan’ out there now, Miss 
Kitty, an’ let me look at yez! Och! but yer the 
foine gurrul! An’ it’s ye thot’s cornin’ to spend 
the summer. My ! but the toimes we’ll be havin’ ! ” 

It was a custom of the Maynards for one of the 
children to spend each summer at Grandma Sher- 
wood’s, and as Marjorie had been there last year, 
it was now Kitty’s turn. 

“ Yes, I’m coming, Eliza,” she said, in her sedate 
way, “ but I’m not going to stay now, you know ; 
we’re all going on a tour. But I’ll come back 
here the first of June, and stay a long time.” 

“ Any cookies, Eliza P ” asked King, apropos of 
nothing. 

“ Cookies, is it? There do be, indade! But if 
yez be afther eatin’ thim now, ye’ll shpoil yer 
supper, — thot ye will ! Here’s one apiece to ye, and 
now run away, and lave me do me worruk. Be 
off with yez ! ” 

After accepting a cookie apiece, the children 
bounced out the back door and down into the gar- 
den in search of Carter. 

“ We’ve come, Carter; we’ve come! ” cried Mar- 
jorie, flinging open a door of the green-house in 
which Carter was busy potting some plants. 

“You don’t say so, Miss Mischief! Well, I’m 


72 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


right down glad to see you ! And is this Master 
King? And Miss Kitty? Well, you all grow 
like weeds after a rain, but I’ll warrant you’re all 
as full of mischief as ever ! ” 

“ Kitty isn’t mischievous,” said Marjorie, who 
was proud of the sedate member of the family. 

44 And it’s Miss Kitty who’s to spend the sum- 
mer, isn’t it? Well, then, I won’t have the times 
I had last year, pulling children up from down 
the well, — and picking them up with broken ankles 
after they slid down the roof! Nothing of that 
sort, eh? ” Carter’s eyes twinkled as he looked 
at Marjorie, who burst into laughter at these 
reminiscences. 

44 No, nothing of that sort, Carter; but we’re all 
going to be here for a few days, and we’re going 
to give you the time of your life. Will you take 
us out rowing in the boat ? ” 

44 I’ll go along with you to make sure you don’t 
drown yourself ; but I think you’re getting big 
enough to do your own rowing. I’m not as young 
as I was, Miss Midget, and I’m chock-full of 
rheumatism.” 

44 Oh, we’d just as lieve row, Carter; King’s fine 
at it, and I can row pretty well myself.” 

But Kitty said : 44 I’m sorry you have rheuma- 
tism, Carter ; I’ll ask Mother to give you some- 
thing for it.” 


AT GRANDMA SHERWOOD’S 


73 


“ Now that’s kind and thoughtful of you, Miss 
Kitty. Miss Mischief, here, would never think of 
that ! ” But, as Carter spoke, his eyes rested lov- 
ingly on Marjorie’s merry face. 

44 That’s so, Carter,” she said, a little penitently, 
44 but do you know, I think if you did take us 
rowing, it would limber up your arms so you 
wouldn’t have rheumatism ! ” 

44 Maybe that’s so, Miss Mischief, — maybe that’s 
so. Anyway, I’ll try both plans, and perhaps it’ll 
help some. But I hear Eliza calling you, so you’d 
all better skip back to the house. It’s nearly sup- 
per time.” 

With a series of wild whoops, which were sup- 
posed to be indicative of the general joy of living, 
the three Maynards joined hands, with Kitty in 
the middle, and raced madly back to the house. 

They all tried to squeeze through the back door 
at once, which proceeding resulted in an athletic 
scrimmage, and a final burst of kicking humanity 
into Eliza’s kitchen. 

44 Howly saints ! but ye’re the noisy bunch ! ” 
was Eliza’s greeting, and then she bade them 
hurry upstairs and tidy themselves for supper. 


CHAPTER VII 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 

Marjorie and Kitty occupied the room that 
had been Marjorie’s the summer before. Another 
little white bed had been put up, and as the 
room was large, the girls were in no way 
crowded. 

Kitty admired the beautiful room, but in her 
quiet way, by no means making such demonstra- 
tions of delight as Marjorie had when she first 
saw it. Also Kitty felt a sort of possession, as 
she would return later and occupy the room for 
the whole summer. 

“ Lots of these things on the shelf, Midget, I 
shall have taken away,” she said, as the girls were 
preparing for bed that same night ; “ for they’re 
your things, and I don’t care about them, and I 
want to make room for my own.” 

“ All right, Kit, but don’t bother about them 
now. When you come back in June, put them all 
in a big box and have them put up in the attic 
until I come again. I only hope you’ll have as 
good a time here as I had last summer. Molly 
. 74 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 75 

Moss and Stella Martin are nearer my age than 
yours, but you’ll like them, I know.” 

66 Oh, I know Molly, but I don’t remember 
Stella.” 

“ You’ll prob’ly like Stella best, though, ’cause 
she’s so quiet and sensible like you. Molly’s a 
scalawag, like me.” 

44 All right,” said Kitty, sleepily, for she was 
too tired to discuss the neighbors, and very soon 
the two girls were sound asleep. 

It was very early when Marjorie awoke the next 
morning. Indeed, the sun had not yet risen, but 
the coming of his event had cast rosy shadows be- 
fore. The east was cloudily bright, where the 
golden beams were trying to break through the 
lingering shades of night, and the scattering clouds 
were masses of pink and silver. 

When Marjorie opened her eyes, she was so very 
wide awake that she knew she should not go to 
sleep again, and indeed had no desire to. The 
days at Grandma’s would be few and short enough 
anyway, and she meant to improve every shining 
minute of them, and so concluded to begin before 
the minutes had really begun to shine. 

She hopped out of bed, and, not to wake Kitty, 
went very softly to the window, and looked out. 
Across the two wide lawns she could see dimly the 
outlines of Stella’s house, half-hidden by trees, and 


76 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


beyond that she could see the chimneys and gables 
of Molly’s house. She watched the sun poking 
the tip edge of his circumference above a distant 
hill, and the bright rays that darted toward her 
made her eyes dance with sympathetic joy. 

“ Kitty,” she whispered, not wanting to wake 
her sister, yet wishing she had somebody to share 
with her the effect of the beautiful sunrise. 

“ You needn’t speak so softly, I’m wide awake,” 
responded Kitty, in her matter-of-fact way; 
“what do you want?” 

“ I want you, you goosey ! Hop out of bed, and 
come and see this gorgiferous sunrise ! ” 

Slowly and carefully, as she did everything, 
Kitty folded back the bedcovers, drew on a pair 
of bedroom slippers, and then put on a kimona 
over her frilled nightgown, adjusting it in place 
and tying its blue ribbon. 

“ Gracious, Kit ! What an old fuss you are ! 
The sun will be up and over and setting before you 
get here ! ” 

“ I’d just as lieve see a sunset as a sunrise, any- 
way,” declared Kitty, as she walked leisurely across 
the room, just in time to see the great red gold 
disc tear its lower edge loose from the hill with 
what seemed almost to be a leap up in the 
air. 

But once at the window, she was as enthusiastic 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 


77 


in her enjoyment of the breaking day as Marjorie, 
though not quite so demonstrative. 

“ Put on a kimona, Midget,” she said at last ; 
“ you’ll catch cold flying around in your night 
dress.” 

“ Kit,” said her sister, unheeding the admonition, 
and sitting down on the edge of her bed as she 
talked, “ I’ve the most splendiferous plan ! ” 

“ So’ve I,” said Kitty ; “ mine is to go back to 
bed and sleep till breakfast time.” 

“ Pooh ! you old Armadillo ! Mine’s nothing 
like that.” 

“ Why am I an Armadillo ? ” asked Kitty, 
greatly interested to know. 

“ Because you want to sleep so much.” 

“ That isn’t an Armadillo, that’s an Anaconda.” 

“Well, you’re it anyway; and it ought to be 
Armadillo, because it rhymes with pillow! But 
now, you just listen to my plan. Seem’s if I just 
couldn’t wait any longer to see Molly and Stella, 
and I’m going to dress right, straight, bang, quick ! 
and go over there. Come on.” 

“ They won’t be awake.” 

“ Of course they won’t ; that’s the fun of it ! 
We’ll throw little pebbles up at their windows, and 
wake them up, and make them come out.” 

“ Well, all right, I will.” Kitty reached this 
decision after a few moments’ consideration, as 


78 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


Marjorie felt sure she would. Kitty usually 
agreed to her older sister’s plans, but she made 
up her mind slowly, while Midget always reached 
her conclusions with a hop, skip, and jump. 

So the girls began to dress, and in a very few 
minutes they were buttoning each other’s frocks 
and tying each other’s hair ribbons. 

Marjorie had invented a way by which they 
could tie each other’s hair ribbons at the same time, 
but as it oftenest resulted in pulled hair and badly 
made bows, it was not much of a time-saver after 
all. 

“ But I do think, Kit,” she said, “ being in such 
haste this morning, we might manage to button 
each other’s dresses at the same time. Stand back 
to back and let’s try.” 

The trial was a decided failure, and resulted only 
in a frolic, after which the buttoning was done 
separately and successfully. 

“ And anyway, we’re not in such a hurry,” com- 
mented Kitty, “ and don’t ever try that stunt 
again, Mopsy. My arms are nearly twisted off ! ” 

“ All right, Kit, I won’t. Now are you ready? 
Come on; don’t make any noise; we don’t want 
to wake anybody.” 

They tiptoed downstairs, and as a greater pre- 
caution against waking the sleeping grownups, 
they went through the kitchen, and out at the 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 79 

back door, which they easily unbolted from the 
inside. 

“ We’ll have to leave this door unfastened,” said 
Marjorie. 66 I hope no burglars will get in.” 

66 Of course they won’t ; burglars never come 
around after sunrise. Oh, isn’t it lovely to smell 
the fresh morningness ! ” 

Kitty stood still, and sniffed the clear, crisp air, 
while the exhilarating effects of the atmosphere 
caused Marjorie to dance and prance in circles 
round her quieter sister. 

“ When you’ve sniffed enough, come on, Kit,” 
she said, dancing away toward Stella’s house. 

Kitty came on, and soon they stood on the 
greensward directly beneath Stella’s bedroom win- 
dow. 

The morning was very still, and the Martins’ 
house looked forbidding, with its silent, closed-up 
air. It was not yet half-past five, and not even 
the servants were stirring. 

Marjorie’s courage failed her. “ I guess we 
won’t try Stella first,” she whispered to Kitty. 
“ Stella’s so scary. Once I just said ‘ boo * at 
her, and she cried like fury. If we fire pebbles 
at her window, like as not she’ll think it’s a 
burglar and have yelling hysterics.” 

“ Burglars don’t throw pebbles to wake people 
up.” 


80 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Well, Stella’s just as likely to think they do. 
You never can tell what Stella’s going to think, 
or what she’s going to do, either. Anyway, let’s 
go to Molly’s first ; you can’t scare her.” 

44 All right,” agreed Kitty, and hand in hand the 
two girls trudged on to the next house. 

44 I believe I’ll get up every morning at five 
o’clock,” said Marjorie; 44 it is so fresh and green 
and wet.” 

44 Yes, it’s awful wet,” said Kitty, looking at 
her shoes ; 44 but it’s a delicious kind of a wetness. 
Dew is awful different from rain.” 

44 Yes, isn’t it ; dew makes you think of fairies 
and, ” 

44 And spiders,” said Kitty, kicking at one of 
the spider webs with which the grass was dotted. 

44 Well, I think spiders are sort of fairies,” said 
Mar j orie, looking lovingly at the glistening webs ; 
44 They must be to weave such silky, spangly 
stuff.” 

44 They weave it for the fairies, Mops. They 
weave it in the night; and then about sunrise, the 
fairies come and gather up the silky, spangly stuff, 
and take it away to make their dresses out of it. 
See, they’re most all gone now.” 

44 Pooh ! the sun dried them up.” 

44 No, he didn’t; the fairies came and took them 
away. Of course you can’t see the fairies, and 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 


81 


that’s why people think the sun dries up the webs.” 
Kitty spoke as one with authority, and into her 
eyes came the faraway look that always appeared 
when her imagination was running riot. For a 
really practical child, Kitty had a great deal of 
imagination, but the two traits never conflicted. 

“ This is Molly’s window,” said Marjorie, dis- 
missing the question of fairies as they reached Mr. 
Moss’s house. 

“ Why don’t you whistle or call her? ” suggested 
Kitty. 

“ No, that might wake up her father and mother. 
And besides, throwing pebbles is lots more fun. 
Let’s get a handful from the drive. Get both 
hands full.” 

In a moment four little hands were filled with 
pebbles. 

“ Wait a minute,” said thoughtful Kitty; “ let’s 
pick out the biggest ones and throw them away. 
Some of these big stones might break a window.” 

So the girls sat down on the front steps and 
carefully assorted their pebbles until at last they 
had their hands filled with only the tiniest 
stones. 

“ Now the thing is to throw straight,” said 
Marjorie. 

“ You throw first,” said Kitty, “ and then I’ll 
follow.” 


82 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


Like a flash, Marjorie’s right hand full of peb- 
bles clattered against Molly’s window, and was 
swiftly followed by a second shower from Kitty’s 
right hand. Then they shifted the pebbles in their 
left hand to their right, and, swish! these pebbles 
followed the others. 

But though the Maynard children were quick, 
Molly Moss was quicker. At the first pebbles she 
flew out of bed and flung up the window, raising 
the sash just in time to get the second lot dis- 
tributed over her own face and person. 

“ Oh, Molly, have we hurt you? ” called out 
Kitty, who realized first what they had done. 

“ No, not a bit! I knew the minute I heard 
the pebbles it was you girls. I’m awful glad to 
see you! Shall I get dressed and come out? ” 

“ Yes, do ! ” cried Marjorie, who was hopping up 
and down on one foot in her excitement. “ Will it 
take you long to dress ? ” 

“ No, indeed; I’ll be down in a jiffy. Just you 
wait a minute.” 

It might have been more than a minute, but it 
wasn’t much more, when the girls heard a rustling 
above them, and looked up to see Molly, fully 
dressed, climbing out of the window. 

“ Oh, Molly, you’ll break your neck ! ” cried 
Kitty, for Molly was already descending by a rose 
trellis that was amply strong enough for a climb- 


AN EARLY ESCAPADE 


83 


in g rose, but which swayed and wabbled frightfully 
under the weight of a climbing girl. 

However, Molly didn’t weigh very much, and 
she had the scrambling ability of a cat, so in a few 
seconds she was down on the ground, and embrac- 
ing the two Maynard girls both at once. 

44 You’re perfect ducks to come over here so 
early! How did you get away? ” 

44 Slid out the back door,” said Marjorie; 64 isn’t 
it larky to be around so early in the morning? ” 

46 Perfectly fine ! How long are you girls going 
to stay? ” 

44 Not quite a week, I think,” said Kitty, and 
Marjorie added, 44 So we want to cram all the fun 
we can into these few days, and so we thought we’d 
begin early.” 

44 All right,” said Molly, taking her literally, 
44 let’s begin right now.” 

44 Oh, we can’t do anything now,” said Mar- 
jorie, 44 that is, nothing in p’ticular.” 

44 Pooh ! yes, we can ! It’s only about half-past 
five, and we don’t have breakfast till eight, do 
you ? ” 

44 Yes, Grandma has it at eight,” said Marjorie, 
44 but, gracious, I’ll be starved to death by that 
time! I’m so hungry now I don’t know what to 
do!” 

44 I’ll tell you what,” began Kitty, and upon 


84 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


her face there dawned that rapt expression, which 
always appeared when she was about to propose 
something ingenious. 

“ What? ” cried Midget and Molly, both at 
once. 

“ Why,” said Kitty, impressed with the great- 
ness of her own idea, “ let’s have a picnic ! ” 

“Picnic!” cried Marjorie, “before breakfast! 
At half-past five in the morning ! Kit, you’re 
crazy ! ” 

“ No, I’m not crazy,” said Kitty, seriously, and 
Molly broke in, “ Of course she isn’t ! It’s a 
grand idea ! ” 

“ But you can’t have a picnic without things 
to eat,” objected Marjorie. 

“ We’ll have things to eat,” declared Kitty, 
calmly. 

“Where’ll you get ’em?” 

“ Kitchen.” 

“ Kit, you’re a genius ! Prob’ly Eliza’s pantry 
is just chock-a-block with good things! And as 
I know they were made for us, we may as well eat 
some now.” 

Then Molly had an inspiration. “ I’ll tell you 
what,” she cried, “ let’s go on the river ! in the 
boat! ” 


CHAPTER VIII 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 

Molly’s suggestion was so dazzling that Midget 
and Kitty were struck dumb for a moment. Then 
Marjorie said, “ No, Grandma won’t let us girls 
go on the river alone, and Carter isn’t up 
yet.” 

“ Let’s throw pebbles and wake him up,” said 
Molly. 

“ No,” said Kitty, “ it’s too bad to wake him 
up early, because he needs his rest. He has to 
work hard all day, and he has the rheumatism 
besides. But I’ll tell you what,” and again Kitty’s 
face glowed with a great idea ; “ let’s go and throw 
pebbles at King’s window, and make him take us 
out rowing.” 

“ Kitty, getting up early in the morning agrees 
with your brain ! ” declared Marjorie. 64 We’ll do 
just that, — and while King is dressing, we’ll pack 
a basket of things to eat. Oh, gorgeous! Come 
on, girls ! ” 

And clasping hands, the three ran away toward 
Grandma Sherwood’s house. 


85 


86 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 What about Stella? ” asked Marjorie, as they 
passed her house. 

44 Oh, don’t try to get her,” said Molly ; 44 she’d 
be scared to death if you pebbled her, and her 
mother and father would think the house was on 
fire or something.” 

So Stella was not included in the picnic, and 
the three conspirators ran on, and never paused 
until they were beneath King’s window. 

44 You don’t need a whole handful for him,” 
advised Kitty. 44 1 expect he’s awake, anyway, and 
one pebble will make him come to the window. 
See, the window’s open anyway; we can just fling 
a pebble in.” 

44 If we can aim straight enough,” said Molly. 

After one or two vain attempts, Kitty sent a 
good-sized pebble straight through the open win- 
dow, and it landed on the floor straight beside 
King’s bed. 

In another moment a tousled head and a pair 
of shoulders, humped into a bathrobe, appeared at 
the window. 

Seeing the girls, King’s face broke into a broad 
grin. 44 Well, you do beat all! ” he cried. 44 Have 
you been out all night ? ” 

44 No,” called Kitty, 44 we’re just playing around 
in the morning. It’s perfectly lovely out, King, 
and we’re going to have a picnic, rowing on 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 


87 


the river. But we can’t go unless you’ll come 
too, so bob into your clothes and come, won’t 
you?” 

“ You bet I will ! Isn’t anybody up ? ” 

“Nobody but us,” said Marjorie; “so don’t 
make any noise. Slide down the back stairs and 
through the kitchen.” 

“Got any feed for your picnic?” 

“We’re going to get some. You hurry down 
and we’ll be ready.” 

“ All right,” and the tousled head disappeared. 
The girls went noiselessly into the kitchen and on 
through into the pantry. As Marjorie had sur- 
mised, the pantry shelves were well-stocked, and 
they found doughnuts, little pies, and cold chicken 
in abundance. Kitty found a goodly-sized basket, 
and remembering King’s appetite, they packed it 
well. 

“ Here’s some hard-boiled eggs,” cried Marjorie, 
“ let’s take these.” 

“ I ’spect Eliza wants them for salad or some- 
thing,” said Kitty, “ but she can boil more. We 
must take some milk, Midget.” 

“ Yes, here’s a big pitcher full. Let’s put it in 
a tin pail to carry it. The milkman will be here 
in time for breakfast.” 

And so when King came softly downstairs, with 
his shoes in his hand, he found the luncheon basket 


88 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


packed, and the feminine portion of the picnic 
all ready to start. 

“ Good work ! ” he said, approvingly, as he 
lifted the basket, greatly pleased with its size and 
weight. 

Molly carried the milk pail, Kitty some glasses, 
and Marjorie some napkins and forks, for she was 
of a housewifely nature, and liked dainty appoint- 
ments. 

“ Maybe we ought to leave a note or something,” 
said Kitty, as they started. 

“ Saying we’ve eloped,” said King, grinning. 

“Don’t let’s bother,” said Marjorie; “they’ll 
know we’re just out playing somewhere, and we’ll 
be back by breakfast time, — it isn’t six o’clock 
yet.” 

“You won’t want any breakfast after all this 
stuff,” said Molly, whose appetite was not as robust 
as the Maynards’. 

“ ’Deed we will ! ” declared King ; “ this little 
snack is all right for six o’clock, but I have an 
engagement at eight in the dining-room.” 

They trudged along to the boathouse, and, as 
they might have expected, found it locked. 

“ I’ll get it,” said Molly ; “ I’m the swiftest 
runner, and I know where the key hangs in Carter’s 
workshop.” 

King watched Molly admiringly as she flew 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 


89 


across the grass, her long, thin, black legs flinging 
out behind her with incredible quickness. 

“ Jingo, she can run ! ” he exclaimed, and indeed 
it seemed but a moment before Molly flashed back 
again with the key. 

The quartet was soon in the boat, and with a 
few strokes, King pulled out into mid-stream. 

“ Let’s have the picnic first,” he said, shipping 
his oars. “ I can’t row when I’m so hungry. 
This morning air gives a fellow an appetite.” 

“ It does so,” agreed Marjorie; “and we girls 
have been out ’most an hour. I’m ’bout starved.” 

So they held a very merry picnic breakfast, while 
the boat drifted along with the current, and the 
cold chicken and biscuits rapidly disappeared. 

“ Now, where do you girls want to go? ” asked 
King, as, the last crumb finished, Kitty carefully 
packed the napkins and glasses back in the basket. 

“ Oh, let’s go to Blossom Banks,” said Marjorie, 
“ that is, if there’s time enough.” 

“ We’ll go down that way, anyhow,” said King, 
“ and if it gets late we’ll come back before we get 
there. Anybody got a watch ? ” 

Nobody had, but all agreed they wouldn’t stay 
out very long, so on they went, propelled by King’s 
long, strong strokes down toward Blossom Banks. 

It was a delightful sensation, because it was such 
a novel one. To row on the river at six o’clock 


90 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


in the morning was a very different proposition 
from rowing later in the day. Molly and Mar- 
jorie sat together in the stern, and Kitty lay curled 
up in the bow, with her hands behind her head, 
dreamily gazing into the morning sky. 

“ Do you remember, Molly,” said Midget, “ how 
we went out with Carter one day, and he scolded 
us so because we bobbed about and paddled our 
hands in the water? ” 

“ Yes, I remember,” and Molly laughed at the 
recollection. “ Let’s dabble our hands now. May 
we, King? ” . 

“ Sure ! I guess I can keep this boat right side 
up if you girls do trail your hands in the water.” 

And so the two merry maidens dabbled their 
hands in the water, and growing frolicsome, shook 
a spray over each other, and even flirted drops into 
King’s face. The boy laughed good-naturedly, 
and retaliated by splashing a few drops on them 
with the tip end of his oar. 

King was fond of rowing, and was clever at it, 
and being a large, strong boy, it tired him not at 
all. Moreover, the boat was a light, round-bot- 
tomed affair that rowed easily, and was not at all 
hard to manage. 

King’s foolery roused the spirit of mischief in 
the two girls, and faster and faster flew the drops 
of water from one to another of the merrymakers. 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 


91 


“No fair splashing!” cried King. “Just a 
spray of drops goes.” 

“All right,” agreed Marjorie, who was also a 
stickler for fair play, and though she dashed the 
water rapidly, she sent merely a flying spray, and 
not a drenching handful. But Molly was not so 
punctilious. She hadn’t the same instinct of fair- 
ness that the Maynards had, and half intentionally, 
half by accident, she flung a handful of water 
straight in King’s face. 

This almost blinded the boy, and for a moment 
he lost control of his oar. An involuntary move 
on his part, due to the shock of the water in his 
face, sent the blade of one oar down deep, and as 
he tried to retrieve it, it splashed a whole wave all 
over Molly. 

But Molly thought King intended to do this, 
and that it was merely part of the game, so with 
one of her lightning-like movements, she grasped 
the blade of the oar in retaliation. The oar being 
farther away than she thought, and rapidly re- 
ceding, caused her to lean far over the boat, and 
in his effort to get his oar again in position, King, 
too, leaned over the side. 

The result was exactly what might have been 
expected. The narrow, clinker-built boat cap- 
sized, and in a moment the four children were 
struggling in the water. 


92 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


Even as the boat went over, King realized what 
had happened, and realized, too, that he was re- 
sponsible for the safety of the three girls. With 
fine presence of mind he threw his arm over the 
keel of the upturned boat and shouted, 64 It’s all 
right, girls ! Just hang on to the boat this way, 
and you won’t go down.” 

Marjorie and Molly understood at once, and did 
exactly as King told them. They were terribly 
frightened, and were almost strangled, but they 
realized the emergency, and struggled to get their 
arms up over the boat in the manner King showed 
them. 

But Kitty did not so quickly respond to orders. 
She had not been paying any attention to the 
merry war going on in the stern of the boat, and 
when she was suddenly thrown out into the water, 
she could not at first collect her scattered senses. 
King’s words seemed to convey no meaning to her, 
and to his horror, the boy saw his sister sink down 
under the water. 

44 Hang on like fury, you two girls ! ” he shouted 
to Marjorie and Molly, and then he made a dive 
for Kitty. 

King was a good swimmer, but, hampered by 
his clothing, and frightened terribly by Kitty’s 
disappearance, he could not do himself justice. 
But he caught hold of Kitty’s dress, and by good 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 


fortune both rose to the surface. King grabbed 
for the boat, but it slipped away from him, and 
the pair went down again. 

At this Marjorie screamed. She had been try- 
ing to be brave, yet the sight of her brother and 
sister being, as she feared, drowned, was too much 
for her. 

“Hush up, Marjorie!” cried Molly. “You 
just keep still and hang on! I can swim! ” 

With an eel-like agility Molly let go of the boat, 
and darted through the water. She was really a 
good swimmer, and her thin, muscular little limbs 
struck out frantically in all directions. Diving 
swiftly, she bumped against Kitty, and grasping 
her arm firmly, she began to tread water rapidly. 
As King was doing this on the other side of Kitty, 
the three shot up to the surface, and King and 
Molly grasped the boat with firm hands, holding 
Kitty between them. 

Kitty was limp, but conscious ; and though King 
was exhausted, he held on to Kitty, and held on to 
the boat, with a desperate grip. 

“ Wait a minute, girls,” he gasped, sputtering 
and stammering ; “ I’ll be all right in a minute. 
Now as long as you hold fast to the boat, you 
know you can’t drown ! How are you getting 
along, Mops ? ” 

“ All right,” called Marjorie from the other side 


94 MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

of the boat ; 44 but I want to come over there by 
you.” 

44 Don’t you do it! You stay there and balance 
the boat. It’s lucky you’re a heavyweight ! Now 
you girls do exactly as I tell you to.” 

King did not mean to be dictatorial, but he was 
getting his breath back, and he knew that although 
their heads were above water, still strenuous meas- 
ures were necessary. 

44 What shall we do? ” shouted Marjorie. 

44 Well, we must try to get this boat to shore. 
And as we’re much nearer the other shore than our 
own side, we’ll try to get it over there, for we don’t 
want to cross the river. Now hang on tight, and 
wiggle your feet like paddles. If you kick out 
hard enough, I think we can get the old thing 
ashore.” 

It wasn’t an easy task, nor a quick one, but after 
a while, by vigorous kicking, in accordance with 
King’s continued directions, they did succeed in 
reaching shallow water. 

44 Now we can walk,” said King, 44 but we may 
as well hang on to the boat and not let her drift 
away.” 

So half scrambling, half crawling, the children 
pushed through the shallow water and up on to 
the shore, dragging the upturned boat with them. 
The shore just here was shelving and sandy, other- 


AN EXCITING PICNIC 


95 


wise it is doubtful if they could have reached it 
at all. But at last four shivering, dripping 
children stood on solid ground, and looked at each 
other. 

“ You’re an old trump, King,” cried Marjorie, 
flinging her arms around her brother’s neck, and 
kissing his wet cheeks ; “ you’re a hero, and a life- 
saver, and a Victoria Cross, and everything!” 

“ There, there, Midget, come off ! I didn’t do 
anything much ; Molly here did the most, but, thank 
goodness, we all got out alive! Now what shall 
we do next ? ” 

Kitty had recovered entirely from her dazed and 
stunned feeling, and was again her practical and 
helpful self. 

44 We must run,” she said, 44 we must run like 
sixty ! That’s the only way to keep from catching 
cold in these wet clothes ! ” 

44 Can’t we build a fire, and dry ourselves ? ” 
asked Molly, who was shivering with cold. 

44 No, of course not,” said Kitty , 44 for we haven’t 
any matches, and if we had they’d be soaked. No, 
we must run as hard as we can tear, along this 
bank until we get opposite Grandma’s house, and 
then they’ll have to come over and get us some- 
how.” 

44 How’ll they know we’re there ? ” asked Molly. 

44 I’ll yell,” said Marjorie, quite confident of her 


96 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


powers in this direction. 44 I’ll jell, — and I just 
know I can make Carter hear me ! ” 

46 I’ll bet you can ! ” said King. 44 Come on then, 
let’s run. Take hold of hands.” 

With King and Midget at either end of the line, 
and the other two between, they ran l 


CHAPTER IX 


ANCIENT FINERY 

When the children reached the big open field that 
was just across the river from Grandma Sher- 
wood’s, although their clothes had ceased dripping, 
they were far from dry, and they all shivered in 
the keen morning air. 

44 Yell away, Mopsy,” cried King. 44 You can 
make Carter hear if anybody can.” 

So Marjorie yelled her very best ear-splitting 
shrieks. 

44 Car-ter ! Car-ter ! ” she screamed, and the 
others gazed at her in admiration. 

44 Well, you can yell ! ” said Molly. 44 1 expect 
my people will hear that ! ” 

After two or three more screams, they saw Car- 
ter come running down toward the boathouse. 
Looking across the river, he saw the four children 
frantically waving their hands and beckoning to 
him. 

44 For the land’s sake ! What is going on 
now? ” he muttered, hurrying down to the bank 
as fast as his rheumatic old legs would carry him. 

97 


98 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 And the boat’s gone ! ” he exclaimed ; 44 now, 
however did them children get over there without 
no boat? By the looks of their wet clothes they 
must have swum over, but I don’t believe they 
could do that. Hey, there ! ” he shouted, making 
a megaphone of his hands. 

“ Come over and get us,” Marjorie yelled back, 
and beginning to realize the situation, Carter went 
into the boathouse and began to take out the other 
boat. This was an old flat-bottomed affair, which 
had been unused since Uncle Steve bought the new 
boat. 

44 Most prob’ly she leaks like a sieve,” he mut- 
tered, as he untied the boat and pushed it out; 
44 but I’ve nothing else to bring the young ras- 
cals home in. So they’ll have to bail while I 
row.” 

Carter was soon in the old boat, and pulling it 
across the river. As he had expected, it leaked 
badly, but he was sure he could get the children 
home in it. 

“ Come on now ! ” he cried, as he beached the 
boat, and jumped out. 44 For the land’s sake, 
how did you get so wet? But don’t stop to 
tell me now! Just pile in the boat, and let 
me get you home to a fire and some dry clothes. 
You’ll all have to bail, for she leaks something 
awful.” 


ANCIENT FINERY 


99 


Not waiting for a second invitation, the damp 
quartet scrambled into the boat, and Carter pulled 
off. The old man had provided tin cans, and 
the children bailed all the way over, for it was 
necessary to do so to keep the boat afloat. 

As they went, Marjorie told Carter the whole 
story, 44 and you see,” she concluded, 44 we didn’t 
do anything wrong, for we’re always allowed to 
go in a boat if King is with us.” 

44 Oh, no, Miss Mischief, you didn’t do any- 
thing wrong ! Of course it wasn’t wrong to 
jump about in the boat and carry on until 
you upset it ! It’s a marvel you weren’t all 
drowned.” 

64 It is so ! ” said King, who realized more fully 
than the others the danger they had been in. 
44 Why, there’s Uncle Steve on the dock, and 
Father, too ; I wonder if they heard Midget 
scream.” 

44 If they were within a mile and not stone deaf 
they couldn’t help hearing her,” declared Carter. 
He rowed as fast as he could, and he made the 
children keep hard at work bailing, not only to 
get the water out of the boat, but because he feared 
if they sat still they’d take cold. 

At last thev reached the dock, and Uncle 
Steve and Mr. Maynard assisted them out of the 
boat. 


100 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


It was no time then for questions or comments, 
and Uncle Steve simply issued commands. 

44 Molly,” he said, 44 you scamper home as fast 
as you can fly ! We have enough to attend to with 
our own brood. Scoot, now, and don’t stop until 
you reach your own kitchen fire, and tell your 
mother what has happened. As for you May- 
nards, you fly to Grandma’s kitchen, and see what 
Eliza can do for you.” 

Molly flew off across the lawns to her own house, 
running so swiftly that she was out of sight in a 
moment. Then the Maynards, obeying Uncle 
Steve’s command, ran to the kitchen door, and 
burst in upon Eliza as she was just finishing the 
breakfast preparations. 

44 Howly saints ! ” she cried. 44 If it wasn’t that 
I always ixpict yees to come in drownded, I’d be 
sheared to death! But if yees weren’t in this 
mess, ye’d be in some other. Such childher I niver 
saw!” 

Eliza’s tirade probably would have been longer, 
but just then Grandma and Mrs. Maynard came 
into the kitchen. 

44 Been for a swim?” asked Mrs. Maynard, 
pleasantly. 

44 Almost been drowned,” said Kitty, rushing into 
her mother’s arm, greatly to the detriment of her 
pretty, fresh morning dress. 


ANCIENT FINERY 


101 


As soon as Mrs. Maynard realized that her 
brood had really been in danger, she gathered all 
three forlorn, wet little figures into her arms at 
once, thankful that they were restored to her alive. 

Then breakfast was delayed while Grandma and 
Mother Maynard provided dry clothing, and 
helped the children to transform themselves once 
more into respectable citizens. 

44 Now tell us all about it, but one at a time,” 
said Uncle Steve, as at last breakfast was served, 
and they all sat round the table. 44 King, your 
version first.” 

46 Well, we all went out for an early morning 
row, and somehow we got to carrying on, and 
that round-bottomed boat tipped so easily, that 
somehow we upset it.” 

44 It’s a wonder you weren’t drowned ! ” exclaimed 
Grandma. 

44 1 just guess it is!” agreed Marjorie; 44 and 
we would have been, only King saved us! Kitty 
mas ’most drowned, and King went down in the 
water and fished her up, and Molly helped a good 
deal, and I stayed on the other side and balanced 
the boat.” 

44 The girls were all plucky,” declared King, 
44 and the whole thing was an accident. It wasn’t 
wrong for us to go out rowing early in the morn- 
ing, was it, Father?” 


102 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ I don’t think it was the hour of the day that 
made the trouble, my son. But are you sure you 
did nothing else that was wrong? ” 

“I did,” confessed Marjorie, frankly. “I 
splashed water, and then the others splashed water, 
and that’s how we came to upset.” 

“ Yes, that was the trouble,” said Mr. May- 
nard ; “ you children are quite old enough to know 
that you /must sit still in a boat. Especially a 
round-bottomed boat, and a narrow one at that.” 

“ It was Molly’s fault more than Midget’s,” put 
in Kitty, who didn’t want her adored sister to 
be blamed more than she deserved. 

“ Well, never mind that,” said Marjorie, gener- 
ously ignoring Molly’s part in the disaster. 
“ There’s one thing sure, Kitty wasn’t a bit to 
blame.” 

“ No,” said King, “ Kit sat quiet as a mouse. 
She wouldn’t upset an airship. Mopsy and I were 
the bad ones, as usual, and I think we ought to be 
punished.” 

“ I think so, too,” said Mr. Maynard, “ but as 
this is a vacation holiday I hate to spoil it with 
punishments, so I’m going to wait until you cut 
up your next naughty trick, and then punish you 
for both at once. Is that a good plan, Mother? ” 

“ Yes,” said Mrs. Maynard, looking fondly at 
the culprits, “ but I want to stipulate that the 


ANCIENT FINERY 


103 


children shall not go out in the boat again without 
some grown person with them.” 

“ I’m glad of that,” said Marjorie, 44 for no 
matter how hard I try I don’t believe I could sit 
perfectly still in a boat, so I’ll be glad to have 
some grownup go along.” 

44 That’s my chance,” exclaimed Uncle Steve, 
44 I’ll take you any time you want to go, Midget, 
and I’ll guarantee to bring you back without a 
ducking.” 

44 Thank you, Uncle Steve,” said Marjorie; 
44 shall we go right after breakfast? ” 

44 Not quite so soon as that, but perhaps to- 
morrow. By the way, kiddies, what do you think 
of having a little party while you’re here? That 
would keep you out of mischief for half a day.” 

44 Oh, lovely!” exclaimed Marjorie. 44 Uncle 
Steve, you do have the beautifullest ideas ! What 
kind of a party? ” 

44 Any kind that isn’t a ducking party.” 

44 But we don’t know anybody much to invite,” 
said Kitty. 

44 Yes, I know quite a few,” said Marjorie, 44 and 
King knows several boys ; and anyway, Molly and 
Stella will help us make out a list. How many 
shall we have, Uncle Steve ? ” 

44 About twenty, I think, and I’ll have a hand at 
that list myself. I know most of the children 


104 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


around here. This afternoon get Molly and Stella 
to come in after school, and we’ll make the list. 
We can send the invitations to-night, and have 
the party day after to-morrow. That’s warning 
enough for such young, young people.” 

44 It seems to be your party, Steve,” said Mrs. 
Maynard, smiling ; 44 can’t I help you with the 
arrangements ? ” 

“Yes, indeed; you and Mother can look after 
the feast part of it, but the rest I’ll attend to 
myself.” 

After breakfast the children were advised to stay 
indoors for a while, lest they get into more mis- 
chief, and also until their elders felt that there 
was no danger of their taking cold. 

44 Lucky we didn’t have Rosy Posy with us,” said 
King, picking up his smallest sister, and tossing 
her up in the air. 

44 Don’t speak of it,” said his mother, turning 
pale at the thought ; 44 and don’t ever take the 
baby on your escapades. She’s too little to go 
through the dangers that you older ones persist in 
getting into.” 

44 Oh, we don’t persist,” said Marjorie, 44 the 
dangers just seem to come to us without our look- 
ing for them.” 

44 They do seem to, Midget,” agreed Uncle 
Steve. 44 But you all seem to have a happy-go- 


ANCIENT FINERY 


105 


lucky way of getting out of them, and I think 
you’re a pretty good bunch of children after all.” 

44 Listen to that ! ” exclaimed King, proudly, 
strutting about the room, elated with the compli- 
ment. 44 It’s worth while having an uncle who 
says things like that to you,” and the others will- 
ingly agreed with him. 

Kept in the house, the children wandered about 
in search of amusement. Kitty curled herself up 
on a sofa, with a book, saying she was determined 
to keep out of mischief for once. 

44 Let’s go up in the attic,” said Midget to 
King, “ and hunt over our old toys that are put 
away up there. We might find some nice game.” 

46 All right, come on,” and in a minute the two 
were scrambling up the attic stairs. 

44 Gracious ! look at that big chest. I never 
saw that before. Wonder what’s in it,” said Mar- 
jorie, pausing before a big cedar chest. 

44 Is it locked?” said King, and lifting the lid 
he discovered it wasn’t. 

But it was filled to the brim with old-fashioned 
garments of queer old Quaker cut. 

44 Wouldn’t it be fun to dress up in these,” cried 
King. 

44 Yes,” assented Marjorie, 44 but I’m not going 
to do it, until we ask Grandma. I’ve had enough 
mischief for one day.” 


106 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


So King ran downstairs and asked Grandma, 
and soon came running back. 

“ She says we may,” he announced briefly, “ so 
let’s choose our rigs.” 

They lifted out the quaint, old-fashioned clothes, 
and found there were both men’s and women’s gar- 
ments among them. 

“ Where do you suppose they came from ? ” 
asked Marjorie. 

“ Grandma said some old relative in Philadelphia 
sent her the chest, some time ago, but she’s never 
opened it.” 

They tried on various costumes, and pranced 
around the attic, pretending they were ladies and 
gentlemen of bygone days. 

Finally King tried on a woman’s dress. It just 
fitted him, and when he added a silk Shaker bonnet 
and a little shoulder shawl, the effect was so funny 
that Marjorie screamed with laughter. 

“ All you want,” she said, 46 is some false hair 
in the front of that bonnet, and you’ll be a perfect 
little old lady.” 

Then Marjorie ran down to Grandma, and asked 
her for some of her false puffs, and getting them, 
flew back to the attic again, and deftly pinned 
them inside of King’s bonnet, transforming him 
into a sweet-faced Quaker lady. 

Then Marjorie arrayed herself as another 


ANCIENT FINERY 


107 


Quaker lady, drawing her hair down in smooth 
bands over her ears, which greatly changed the 
expression of her face, and made her look much 
older. Each carried an old-fashioned silk reticule, 
and together they went downstairs. After parad- 
ing before their admiring relatives, they decided to 
play a joke on Eliza. She had not yet seen them, 
so they slipped downstairs and out the front door, 
and then closing it softly behind them, they rang 
the bell. 

Eliza came to the door, and utterly failed to 
recognize the children. 

“ Does Mrs. Sherwood live here? ” asked King, 
in a thin, disguised voice. 

“ Yes, ma’am,” said Eliza, not knowing the 
children, “ but — ” gazing in surprise at the 
quaint, old-fashioned dresses and bobbing bonnets. 

“ Please tell her her two aunts from Philadel- 
phia are here,” said Marjorie, but she could not 
disguise her voice as well as King, and Eliza sud- 
denly recognized it. 

“ Two aunts from Phillydelphy, is it? ” she 
said. “ More likes it’s too loonytics from Crazy- 
land ! What will ye mischiefs be cuttin’ up next ! 
But, faith, ye’re the bonny ould ladies, and if ye’ll 
come in and take a seat, I’ll tell the missus ye’re 
here.” 

But, having fooled Eliza, the fun was over in 


108 , MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

that direction, and the Quaker ladies trotted 
away to make a call on Carter. 

Just at first he didn’t know them, and thought 
the two ladies were coming to see him. But in a 
moment he saw who they were, and the good- 
natured man entered at once into the game. 


CHAPTER X 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 

“ Good-morning, ladies,” he said, bowing gravely, 
“ I’m very pleased to see you. May I ask your 
names ? ” 

“Mrs. William Penn and Mrs. Benjamin 
Franklin,” said Marjorie, “ and we have come to 
look at your flowers.” 

“ Yes, ma’am ; they do be fine this year, ma’am. 
Happen you raise flowers yourself? ” 

“ No, not much,” said King, “ we don’t raise 
anything.” 

66 Except when you raise the mischief,” de- 
clared Carter, laughing at the prim faces before 
him. “ I’m thinkin’ if you’d always wear those 
sober-colored dresses you mightn’t lead such a 
rambunctious life.” 

“ That’s so,” said King, kicking at his skirts. 
“ But they’re not easy to get around in.” 

“ I think they are,” said Marjorie, gracefully 
swishing the long folds of her silk skirt. “ Come 
on, King, let’s go over and see Stella; we haven’t 
seen her yet.” 

“ Miss Stella’s gone to school,” Carter informed 
109 


110 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


them. 44 I saw her go by with her books just 
before nine o’clock. And if you ladies can ex- 
cuse me now, I’ll be going back to my work. If 
so be ye fall in the river or anything, just you 
scream, Miss Marjorie, and I’ll come and fish you 
out.” 

44 We don’t fall in twice in one day,” said Mar- 
jorie, with dignity, and the two Quaker ladies 
trailed away across the lawn. 

They went down into the orchard, to pay a visit 
to Breezy Inn. This was Marjorie’s tree-house 
which Uncle Steve had had built for her the year 
before. 

But the rope ladder was not there, so they 
could not go up, and they wandered on, half 
hoping they might meet somebody who would really 
think they were Quaker ladies. Crossing the 
orchard, they came out on one of the main streets 
of the town, and saw not far away, the school 
which Stella and Molly attended. 

Marjorie had a sudden inspiration. 44 Let’s go 
to the school,” she said, 44 and ask for Stella and 
Molly!” 

44 Only one of them,” amended King; 44 which 
one? ” 

44 Stella, then. We’ll go to the front door, and 
we’ll probably see the janitor, and we’ll ask him 
to call Stella Martin down.” 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 111 


44 I think we’d better send for Molly.” 

“ No, Molly would make such a racket. Stella’s 
so much quieter, and I don’t want to make any 
trouble.” 

They reached the schoolhouse, which was a 
large brick building of three or four stories. 
The front door was a rather impressive portal, 
and the children went up the steps and rang 
the bell. 

44 You do the talking, King,” said Marjorie. 
44 You can make your voice sound just like an old 
lady.” 

The janitor appeared in answer to their ring, 
and looked greatly amazed to see two old Quaker 
ladies on the doorstep. The children kept their 
heads down, and the large bonnets shaded their 
faces. 

44 We want to see Miss Stella Martin,” said 
King, politely, and the clever boy made his voice 
sound like that of an elderly lady. 

44 Yes’m,” said the janitor, a little bewildered. 
44 Will you come in?” 

44 No,” said King, 44 we won’t come in, thank 
you. Please ask Miss Stella Martin to come down 
here. Her two aunts from Philadelphia want to 
see her.” 

The janitor partly closed the door, and went 
upstairs to Stella’s classroom. 


112 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 We fooled him all right ! ” chuckled King, 
44 but what do you suppose Stella will say ? ” 

44 I don’t know,” said Midget, thoughtfully ; 
44 you never can tell what Stella will do. She may 
think it’s a great joke, and she may burst out cry- 
ing. She’s such a funny girl.” 

In a moment Stella came down. The janitor 
was with her, and opened the door for her. As 
she saw the two Quaker figures her face expressed 
only blank bewilderment. 

44 Who are you ? ” she asked, bluntly. 44 1 
haven’t any aunts in Philadelphia.” 

44 Oh, yes, you have,” said King, in his falsetto 
voice. 44 Don’t you remember your dear Aunt 
Effie and Aunt Lizzie ? ” 

44 No, I don’t,” declared Stella, and then as she 
showed signs of being frightened, and perhaps 
crying, Marjorie came to the rescue. 

She hated to explain the joke before the jani- 
tor, but he looked good-natured, and after all it 
was only a joke. So she threw back her head, and 
smiled at Stella, saying, 44 Then do you remember 
your Aunt Marjorie Maynard?” 

44 Marjorie! ” exclaimed Stella. 44 What are you 
doing in such funny clothes ? And who is this with 
you, — Kitty ? ” 

44 No,” said King, 44 it’s Kingdon. I’m Mar- 
jorie’s brother, and we’re out on a little lark.” 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 113 


44 How did you ever dare come here?” and 
Stella’s startled gaze rested on them, and then on 
the janitor. 

The janitor was a good-natured man, but he felt 
that this performance was not in keeping with 
school discipline, and he felt he ought to send the 
children away at once. But Marjorie smiled at 
him so winningly that he could not speak sternly 
to her. 

44 1 guess you’d better run along now,” he said ; 
44 the principal wouldn’t like it if he saw you.” 

44 Yes, we’re going now,” said Marjorie, 44 but I 
just wanted to speak to Stella a minute. We’re 
going to have a party, Stella, and I want you to 
come over this afternoon and tell us who to 
invite.” 

44 All right,” said Stella ; 44 I’ll come right after 
school. And now do go away. If my teacher 
should see you she’d scold me.” 

44 She’d have no right to,” said King. 44 You 
couldn’t help our coming.” 

44 No, but I can help staying here and talking 
to you. Now I must go back to my classroom.” 

44 Skip along, then,” said Marjorie, and then 
turning to the janitor, she added, 44 and will you 
please ask Miss Molly Moss to come down.” 

44 That I will not ! ” declared the man. 44 I’ve 
been pretty good to you two kids, and now you’d 


114 MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

better make a getaway, or I’ll have to report to the 
principal.” 

“ Oh, we’re going,” said Marjorie, hastily; 
“ and don’t mention our call to the principal, 
because it might make trouble for Stella, though 
I don’t see why it should.” 

“ Well, I won’t say anything about it,” and the 
janitor smiled at them kindly as he closed the door. 

The pair went home chuckling, and when they 
reached the house it was nearly lunch time. So 
they came to the table in their Quaker garb, and 
created much merriment by pretending to be guests 
of the family. 

Stella and Molly both came after school, and 
the list for the party invitations was soon made 
out. Uncle Steve wrote the invitations, and sent 
them to the mail, but he would not divulge any 
of his plans for the party, and though Midget 
was impatient to know, she could get no idea of 
what the plays or games were to be. 

But it was not long to wait for the day of the 
party itself. The guests were invited from three 
to six in the afternoon, and though the Maynards 
knew some of them, there were a number of 
strangers among the company. However, Stella 
and Molly knew them all, and it did not take long 
for the Maynards to feel acquainted with them. 

The first game was very amusing. Uncle 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 115 


Steve presented each child with a Noah’s Ark. 
These were of the toy variety usually seen, but 
they were all empty. 

“ You must find animals for yourselves,” said 
Uncle Steve, who was never happier than when 
entertaining children. “ They are hidden all 
about, in the drawing-room, library, dining-room, 
and hall. You may not go upstairs, or in the 
kitchen, but anywhere else in the house you may 
search for animals to fill your arks. Now scamper 
and see who can get the most.” 

The children scampered, and all agreed that 
hunting wild animals was a great game. It was 
lots more fun than a peanut hunt, and they found 
elephants, lions, and tigers tucked away behind 
window curtains and sofa pillows, under tables 
and chairs, and even behind the pictures on the 
walls. 

There were so many animals that each one 
succeeded in filling his or her ark, and after they 
had declared they could find no more, each child 
was told to take the ark home as a souvenir of 
Marjorie’s party. 

“ The next game,” said Uncle Steve, as they 
all sat round, awaiting his directions, 66 is out of 
doors, so perhaps you had better put on your 
coats and hats.” 

“ Oh, Uncle Steve,” said Marjorie, “ the air 


116 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


is so soft and warm, I’m sure we don’t need 
wraps.” 

“ Yes, you do,” said Uncle Steve ; “ this is a 
peculiar game, and you must have your coats on.” 

So the children trooped upstairs, and soon re- 
turned garbed for outdoors, and two by two they 
followed Uncle Steve in a long procession. Mr. 
Maynard was with them, too, but Uncle Steve 
was general manager, and told everybody what 
to do. 

He led them across the lawns, down through the 
orchard, and then they came to a large plot of 
soft, newly-dug earth. It was a sandy soil and 
not at all muddy, and the children wondered what 
kind of a game could take place in a ploughed 
field. 

“ It has just been discovered,” Uncle Steve be- 
gan, “ that this field you see before you is the 
place where Captain Kidd buried his treasures! 
For many years the site was undiscovered, but 
documents have been found recently, proving be- 
yond all doubt that the greater part of his vast 
treasure was concealed in this particular piece of 
ground. Of course, if this were generally known, 
all sorts of companies and syndicates would be 
formed to dig for it. But I have carefully kept 
it secret from the world at large, because I wanted 
you children to be the first ones to dig for it. 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 117 


Bring the spades, please, Carter, and let us set 
to work at once.” 

So Carter brought twenty small spades, and 
gave one to each child present. 

“ Now,” said Uncle Steve, “ dig wherever you 
like, all over the field, and when you find any 
buried treasure, dig it up, but if it is tied up in 
a parcel, do not open it. Every one finding any 
treasure must bring it, and put it in this wheel- 
barrow, and then, if you choose, you may go back 
and dig for more.” 

This was indeed a novel game, and girls and 
boys alike began to dig with enthusiasm. 

Marjorie worked like mad. The dirt flew right 
and left, and she dug so hard and fast that she 
almost blistered her palms. 

“ Slow and sure is a better rule, Midget,” said 
her uncle, who was watching her. “ Look at 
Kitty, she has dug quite as much as you without 
making any fuss about it.” 

“ Oh, I have to work fast, Uncle Steve, ’cause 
I’m having such a good time! If I didn’t fling 
this spade around hard, I couldn’t express my 
enjoyment ; and oh, Uncle, I’ve struck a treasure ! ” 

Sure enough, Marjorie’s spade had come in con- 
tact with what seemed to be a tin box. It was 
quite a large box and was strongly tied with lots 
of cord, and on it was pasted a paper with the 


118 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


legend, “ This treasure was buried by Captain 
Kidd. It is of great value.” 

“It is a treasure, it is!” cried Marjorie, and 
eagerly she wielded her spade to get the box free. 
At last she succeeded, and picking it up from the 
dirt, carried it to the wheelbarrow. 

Two or three other children also brought treas- 
ures they had found, and this encouraged the 
others so that they dug deeper. 

Shouts of glee rang out from one or another as 
more and more boxes of treasure were unearthed, 
and the pile of boxes in the wheelbarrow grew 
higher every moment. The boxes were of all 
shapes and sizes. They were all carefully tied up 
with lots of string and paper, and they all bore 
testimony in large printed letters that they had 
been buried by Captain Kidd and his band of 
pirates. King unearthed a large box two or three 
feet square, but very flat and shallow. He could 
not imagine what it might contain, but he piled 
it on the wheelbarrow with the others. 

After twenty pieces of treasure had been dug 
up, Uncle Steve declared that they had emptied 
the field, and he led the children back to the 
house. Carter followed with the wheelbarrow, and 
they all gathered in the little enclosed porch that 
had been furnished especially for Marjorie the 
summer before. With a whiskbroom, Carter 


CALLING AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE 119 


brushed off any dirt still clinging to the treasures, 
and piled them up on a table. 

Then calling the children by name, Uncle Steve 
invited each one to select a box of treasure for his 
or her very own. As it was impossible to judge by 
the shape of the box what it contained, great merri- 
ment was caused by the surprises which ensued. 

The treasures were all dainty and pretty gifts ; 
there were books, games, toys, fancy boxes, and 
pretty souvenirs of many sorts. If a boy received 
a gift appropriate for a girl, or vice versa , they 
made a happy exchange, and everybody was more 
than satisfied. 

After this, they were summoned to the dining- 
room for the feast, and a merry feast it was. 
Eliza had used her best skill in the making of 
dainty sandwiches and little cakes with pink and 
white icing. Then there were jellies and fruits, 
and, best of all, in Kitty’s eyes, most delightful 
ice cream. It was in individual shapes, and each 
child had a duck, or a chicken, or a flower, or a 
fruit beautifully modelled and daintily colored. 

The guests went away with a box of treasure 
under one arm and a Noah’s ark under the other, 
and they all declared, as they said good-bye, that 
it was the nicest party they had ever seen, and 
they wished the Maynard children lived at their 
Grandmother’s all the year around. 


CHAPTER XI 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 

Ale of the Maynards were sorry when the time 
came to leave Grandma Sherwood’s. But they had 
still three weeks of their trip before them, and 
many places yet to be visited. Kitty was almost 
tempted to stay, since she was coming back in 
June anyway, and she wasn’t quite so fond of 
travelling about as King and Midget were. But 
they would not hear of this, and persuaded Kitty 
to go on the trip, and return to Grandma Sher- 
wood’s later. 

So on a fair, sunshiny May morning, the big 
car started once more on its travels, with half a 
dozen Maynards packed in it. They were waving 
good-byes, and calling back messages of farewell, 
and the car rolled away, leaving Grandma and 
Uncle Steve watching them out of sight. 

Their next destination was New York City, 
where they were to make a short visit at Grandma 
Maynard’s. 

“ Isn’t it funny,” Marjorie said, voicing the 
sentiment of many older travellers, “ that when 
120 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 121 


you leave one place you sort of forget it, — and 
your thoughts fly ahead to the next place you’re 
going.” 

“ It’s so long since I’ve been at Grandma May- 
nard’s,” said Kitty, 44 and I was so little when I 
was there, that I hardly remember it at all.” 

“ It isn’t half as much fun as Grandma Sher- 
wood’s,” declared King, and then Marjorie, afraid 
lest her father should feel hurt, added quickly, 
“ But it’s very nice indeed, and Grandma and 
Grandpa Maynard are lovely. The only reason 
we have more fun at Grandma Sherwood’s is be- 
cause we don’t have to be quite so careful of our 
manners and customs.” 

44 Well, it won’t hurt you, Midget,” said her 
mother, 44 to have a little experience in that line ; 
and I do hope, children, you will behave yourselves, 
and not go to cutting up any of your mischief or 
jinks.” 

44 Kit will be our star exhibit,” said King, 44 she’ll 
have to do the manners for the family.” 

44 I’ll do my share,” said Kitty, taking him 
literally, 44 but unless you two behave, I can’t do 
it all. If you go to pulling hair-ribbons and 
neckties off each other, Grandma Maynard will 
think you’re Hottentots ! ” 

44 1 will be good, dear Mother,” said King, with 
such an angelic expression on his face that Mrs. 


122 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


Maynard felt' sure he was in a specially roguish 
mood; and though she thought her children were 
the dearest in the world, yet she knew they had 
a propensity for getting into mischief just when 
she wanted them to act most decorously. 

But she said no more, for very often special 
admonitions resulted in special misbehavior. 

They were spinning along a lovely country road, 
which ran across that portion of New Jersey, 
and the children found much to interest them in 
the scenes they passed. Mr. Maynard liked to 
travel rather slowly, and as it neared noon they 
stopped at a hotel for luncheon. Here they stayed 
for some time, and the children were delighted to 
find that there were several other children living 
at the hotel, and they soon became acquainted. 

One girl, about Marjorie’s age, named Ethel 
Sinclair, seemed an especially nice child, and Mrs. 
Maynard was glad to have Marjorie play with her. 

She was sitting on the veranda embroidering, 
and this interested Marjorie, for all the girls she 
knew of her own age liked to run and play better 
than to sit and sew. 

But when Ethel showed them her work, Kitty 
and Marjorie, and even King, took an interest in 
looking at it. It was a large piece of white linen, 
about a yard square, neatly hemstitched, and all 
over it were names of people. 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 123 


Ethel explained that she asked any one whom 
she chose to write an autograph on the cloth in 
pencil, and then afterward she worked them very 
carefully with red cotton, taking very small 
stitches that the names might be clear and legible. 

“ But what’s it for? ” asked King, with a boy’s 
ignorance of such matters. 

44 It’s a teacloth,” said Ethel, 44 to cover a tea 
table, you know.” 

44 But you don’t have afternoon tea, do you?” 
asked Marjorie, for Ethel, like herself, was only 
twelve. 

44 No, but I’m going to use it for a tablecover 
in my bedroom, and perhaps when I grow older 
I can use it for a teacloth.” 

Ethel was a prim-mannered child, and had 
apparently been brought up in a conventional 
manner, but Marjorie liked her, and stayed talking 
with her, while King and Kitty went off to explore 
the gardens. 

44 1 wish I could make one,” went on Marjorie 
to Ethel, 44 where did you get the linen ? ” 

44 There’s a little shop just down the road, and 
they have the squares already hemstitched. It 
would be nice for you to make one, for you could 
get so many names as you go on your trip.” 

44 So I could ; I’m going to ask mother if I may 
buy one. Will you go with me, Ethel? ” 


124 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


Ethel went gladly, and when the girls showed 
the teacloth to Mrs. Maynard, she approved of 
the whole plan, for she wanted Marjorie to be- 
come more fond of her needle, and this work would 
be an incentive to do so. 

So she gave Marjorie the money for the pur- 
chase, and the two girls trotted away to the little 
shop which was not far from the hotel. 

Marjorie found a square just like Ethel’s, and 
bought it with a decidedly grownup feeling. 

“ I don’t like to sew much,” she confessed to 
Ethel, as they walked back. “ I’ve tried it a 
little, but I’d rather read or play.” 

“ But this isn’t like regular sewing, and it’s 
such fun to see the names grow right under your 
eyes. They’re so much prettier after they’re 
worked in red than when they’re just written in 
pencil.” 

“ Wouldn’t they be prettier still worked in 
white? ” asked Marjorie. 

“No; I saw one that way once, and the names 
don’t show at all, — you can hardly read them. 
Red is the best, and it doesn’t fade when it’s 
washed.” 

Marjorie had bought red cotton at the shop, 
and she showed her purchases to her mother with 
great delight. 

“ They’re fine,” said Mrs, Maynard, approy* 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 125 


ingly. “ Now why don’t you ask Ethel to write 
her name, and then you can always remember that 
hers was the first one on the cloth.” 

“ Oh, that will be lovely!” cried Marjorie. 
“ Will you, Ethel? ” 

“ Yes, indeed,” and getting a pencil, Ethel 
wrote her name in a large, plain, childish 
hand. 

“ You must always ask people to write rather 
large,” she advised, “ because it’s awfully hard to 
work the letters if they’re too small.” 

Then Ethel lent Marj orie her needle and thimble 
so that she might do a few stitches by way of 
practice. 

But it was not so easy for Marjorie as for 
Ethel, and her stitches did not look nearly so nice 
and neat. However, Mrs. Maynard said that she 
felt sure Marjorie’s work would improve after she 
had done more of it, and she thanked Ethel for 
her assistance in the matter. 

Then Ethel’s mother appeared, and the two 
ladies were made acquainted, and then it was lun- 
cheon time, and the Maynards all went to the 
dining-room. 

“ I think the most fun of the whole trip is 
eating in restaurants,” said Kitty. “ I just love 
to look around, and see different tables and differ- 
ent people at them.” 


126 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 It is fun,” agreed King ; 44 but I wouldn’t 
want to live in a hotel all the time. I think it’s 
more fun to be at home.” 

44 So do I,” said Marjorie. 44 Somehow, in a 
hotel, you feel sort of stiff and queer, and you 
never do at home.” 

44 You needn’t feel stiff and queer, Marjorie,” 
said her father; 44 but of course there is a certain 
conventional restraint about a public dining-room 
that isn’t necessary at home. I want you children 
to become accustomed to restaurants, and learn 
how to act polite and reserved, without being what 
Marjorie calls stiff and queer.” 

44 Don’t we act right, Father ? ” inquired Kitty, 
anxiously. 

44 Yes, you do very nicely, indeed. Your table 
manners are all right, and the less you think about 
the subject the better. This trip will give you a 
certain amount of experience, and anyway you 
have all your life to learn in. But I will ask you, 
children, to be on your good behavior at Grandma 
Maynard’s. She is more difficult to please than 
Grandma Sherwood, but I want her to think my 
children are the best and the best-behaved in the 
whole world.” 

44 How long shall we stay there, Father? ” asked 
Marjorie. 

44 About three days. I’m sure you can exist 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 1 Ti 


that long without falling in the water or cutting 
up any pranks in the house.” 

“ Is there any water to fall in ? ” asked King. 

“ No, there isn’t. I used that as a figure of 
speech. But I’m sure if you try to be quiet and 
well-behaved children you can easily succeed.” 

46 I’m sure we can,” said Marjorie, heartily, 
and deep in her heart she registered a vow that 
she would succeed this time. 

After luncheon was over, Pompton brought the 
car around, and they started off again. Marjorie 
bade Ethel good-bye with a feeling of regret that 
she did not live nearer, so she might have her for 
a friend. But she had her autograph as a souve- 
nir, and she intended to work her tablecloth very 
neatly, so it would look as good as Ethel’s. 

The afternoon ride was not a long one, and 
before four o’clock they came in sight of the tall 
towers of the New York buildings. 

The children had never approached the city in 
a motor car before, and were enthusiastic over the 
view of it. Mr. Maynard pointed out the different 
business buildings, some of which they already 
recognized. They had to cross a downtown ferry, 
and soon they were speeding north through the 
streets of crowded traffic. 

As they neared Grandma Maynard’s house in 
Fifth Avenue, Mrs. Maynard looked over her 


128 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


brood carefully to see if they were in proper order 
for presentation. 

Except for slight evidences of travel, they all 
looked neat and tidy, and the girls’ pretty motor 
garb was becoming and correct. Rosy Posy as 
usual, looked the pink of perfection, for the child 
had a knack of keeping herself dainty and fresh 
even in difficult circumstances. 

Satisfied with her inspection, Mrs. Maynard 
gave them final injunctions to behave correctly, 
and then they reached the house. 

The children had been there before, but they did 
not go often, and for the last two years the elder 
Maynards had been travelling abroad. So they 
felt almost like strangers as they entered the 
lofty and dimly lighted hall, to which they were 
admitted by an imposing-looking footman in 
livery. 

Ushered into the reception room, the visitors 
found themselves in the presence of their host and 
hostess. 

Grandma and Grandpa Maynard were most 
worthy and estimable people; but they were not 
very young, and they had lived all their lives in 
an atmosphere of convention and formality. They 
did not realize that this was different from the 
mode of living preferred by their son’s family, and 
indeed they were so accustomed to their own ways 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 129 


that it never occurred to them that there were 
any others. 

Mr. and Mrs. Maynard appreciated and un- 
derstood all this, and accepted the situation as 
it stood. 

But the children, impressed by the admonitions 
of their parents, and oppressed by the severe and 
rigid effects of the house, turned into quiet little 
puppets, quite different from their usual merry 
selves. 

Although the elder Maynards’ greetings were 
formal, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard, Jr., were cordial 
in their manner. Mr. Maynard shook his father 
heartily by the hand, and kissed his mother ten- 
derly, and Mrs. Maynard did the same. 

Marjorie endeavored to do exactly as her par- 
ents did, but as she began to chatter to her grand- 
father, Grandma Maynard told her that children 
should be seen and not heard, and bade her sit 
down on a sofa. The old lady had no intention 
of hurting Marjorie’s feelings, but she meant ex- 
actly what she said, and it irritated her to hear 
a child chatter. 

“ And now,” said Grandma Maynard, after the 
greetings were all over, 44 you would like to go 
to your rooms, I’m sure, and make ready for 
tea.” 

Decorously the children filed upstairs and were 


130 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


put in charge of maids who assisted them with 
their toilets. 

Marjorie and Kitty were in the same room, but 
owing to the maids’ presence, they could make 
no comments. 

As the trunks had been sent ahead, they had 
fresh frocks in plenty, and soon, attired in stiff 
white kilted pique, they went downstairs again. 

Grandma Maynard nodded approval, and told 
them to sit down on the divan. 

“ Of course, you little girls don’t drink tea,” she 
said, as she seated herself behind the elaborately 
appointed tea-tray which the butler had brought 
in. “ So I have milk for you.” 

This was entirely satisfactory, and as there were 
plenty of lovely little cakes and dainty sand- 
wiches, the children felt there was no fault to be 
found with Grandma’s hospitality, even though 
they were not allowed to talk. 

King adapted himself rather more easily than 
the girls to this order of things, and he sat quietly 
in his chair, speaking only when he was spoken to ; 
and though Marjorie knew he was fairly aching 
to shout and race around, yet he looked so demure 
that he almost made her laugh. 

Not that she did! No, indeed, she knew better 
than that ; but though she tried very hard to ap- 
pear at her ease, her nature was so sensitive to 


A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE 131 

mental atmosphere, that her cakes almost choked 
her. 

Rosy Posy was perfectly at ease. The midget 
sat quietly, and accepted with benign grace the 
milk and crackers fed to her by one of the maids. 

But at last the tea hour was over, and the 
Maynards discovered that virtue is sometimes re- 
warded. 

44 You are most pleasant and amiable children,” 
said Grandma Maynard, looking judicially at the 
quartet, “ and you certainly have very good man- 
ners. I’m glad to see, Ed, that you have brought 
them up to be quiet and sedate. I detest noisy 
children.” 

44 Yes, you are sensible, and not annoying to 
have around,” agreed Grandpa Maynard, and the 
three older children smiled respectfully at the 
compliment, but offered no reply. 

44 And now,” went on Grandpa Maynard, 44 1 
think that you should be amused for an hour. 
They don’t sit up to dinner, of course, my dear? ” 
he added, turning to his wife. 

44 Yes, we do!” was on the tip of Marjorie’s 
tongue, but she checked the speech just in time, 
and said nothing. 

44 No, of course not,” replied Grandma May- 
nard ; 44 our dinner hour is eight, and that is too 
late for children. Besides, I have invited some 


132 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


guests to meet Ed and Helen. So the children 
will have supper in the small breakfast-room at 
half-past six, and meantime, as you say, we must 
give them some amusement.” 

King greatly wondered what these grandpar- 
ents’ idea of amusement would be, but Marjorie 
and Kitty had so little hope that it would be 
anything very enjoyable that they took little in- 
terest in it. 

However, when it proved that the amusement 
was to be a ride in the park, it sounded rather 
attractive. 


CHAPTER XII 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 

The ride in the park, though conducted under 
rather formal conditions, proved very enjoyable 
to the four young Maynards. 

Grandpa Maynard’s equipage was a Victoria 
with a span of fine horses. On the high front 
seat sat the coachman and footman in livery, who 
looked sufficiently dignified and responsible to take 
care of a merry flock of children. 

But, impressed by their surroundings, the chil- 
dren were not very merry, and Mar j orie sat decor- 
ously on the back seat with Rosy Posy beside 
her, while King and Kitty sat facing them. 

It was a lovely afternoon, and the park drives 
were crowded with vehicles of all sorts. Marjorie 
secretly thought carriage driving rather tame 
after motoring, but there was so much to look 
at that it was really desirable to go rather 
slowly. 

As they passed the lake, Parker, the footman, 
turned around, and asked them if they would like 
to get out and see the swans. 

133 


134 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


They welcomed this opportunity, and the foot- 
man gravely assisted them from the carriage. He 
selected a bench for them, and the four sat down 
upon it without a word. 

At last the funny side of the situation struck 
King, and as he looked at his three demure sisters, 
he couldn’t stand it another minute. “ I’ll race 
you down to that big tree,” he whispered to Mar- 
jorie, and like a flash the two were off, with their 
heels flying out behind them. 

Parker was scandalized at this performance, 
but he said nothing, and only looked at Kitty and 
Rosamond, still sitting demurely on the bench. 

44 They’ll come back in a minute,” said Kitty, 
and the footman answered respectfully, 44 Yes, 
Miss.” 

44 Did you ever see anything like it? ” said King 
to Marjorie, as they reached the big tree almost 
at the same time. 

“ It’s awful funny,” Midget returned, 44 but just 
for a day or two, I don’t mind it. It’s such a new 
experience that it’s rather fun. Only it’s such a 
temptation to shock Grandpa and Grandma May- 
nard. I feel like doing something crazy just to 
see what they would do. But we promised not 
to get into any mischief. Shall we go back 
now? ” 

44 Might as well ; if we stay much longer it 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 135 


will be mischief. I’ll race you back to the 
carriage.” 

Back they flew as fast as they had come, and 
when they reached the others, their cheeks were 
glowing and their eyes sparkling with the exercise. 

The impassive footman made no comments, and 
in fact, he said nothing at all, but stood like a 
statue with the carriage robe over his arm. 

So Marjorie assumed command, and said 
quietly, “We will go back now, Parker,” and the 
man said, “ Yes, ma’am,” and touched his hat, 
quite as if she had been Grandma Maynard her- 
self. 

But the very fact of being in a position of re- 
sponsibility made Marjorie more audacious, and 
as the man put them into the carriage, she said, 
“ On the way home, we will stop somewhere for 
soda water.” 

“ Yes, ma’am,” replied Parker, and he took his 
place on the box. 

The others looked at Marjorie a little doubt- 
fully, but greatly pleased at the suggestion. And 
after all it certainly was not mischievous to get 
soda water, a treat which they were often allowed 
at home. 

They left the park, and drove down Fifth 
Avenue, and after a while the carriage stopped 
in front of a large drug shop. 


136 MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 

Parker assisted them from the carriage, and 
ushered them into the shop, which had a well- 
appointed soda fountain. Then Parker proceeded 
to select four seats for his charges, and after he 
had lifted Rosamond up on to her stool, and the 
rest were seated, he said to Marjorie, “ Will you 
give the order, Miss Maynard?” 

Feeling very grownup, Marjorie asked the 
others what flavors they would like, and then she 
gave the order to the clerk. The footman stood 
behind them, grave and impassive, and as there was 
a large mirror directly in front of them, Mar- 
jorie could see him all the time. It struck her 
very funny to see the four Maynards eating their 
ice cream soda, without laughing or chatting, and 
with a statuesque footman in charge of them ! 
However, the Maynards’ enjoyment of their 
favorite dainty was not seriously marred by 
the conditions, and when at last they laid 
down their spoons, Marjorie suddenly realized 
that she had no money with her to pay for their 
treat. 

“ Have you any money, King? ” she asked. 

“ Not a cent ; I never dreamed of having any 
occasion to use it, and I didn’t bring any with 
me.” 

“What shall we do? ” said Kitty, who foresaw 
an embarrassing situation. 



AND IMPASSIVE 




























































AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 137 


“ If you have finished, I will pay the check,” 
said Parker, 44 and then, are you ready to go 
home, Miss Maynard ? ” 

44 Yes, thank you,” said Marjorie, delighted to 
be relieved from her anxiety about the money. 

So Parker paid the cashier, and then mar- 
shalled his charges out of the shop, and in a 
moment they were once again on their way 
home. 

44 Pretty good soda water,” said Marjorie. 

44 Yes ; but you might as well drink it in church,” 
said King, who was beginning to tire of the atmos- 
phere of restraint. 

44 1 wish they did serve soda water in church,” 
said Kitty ; 44 it would be very refreshing.” 

And then they were back again at Grandpa 
Maynard’s, and were admitted with more footmen 
and formality. 

But Marjorie, with her adaptable nature, was 
beginning to get used to conventional observances, 
and, followed by the other three, she entered the 
drawing-room, and went straight to her Grand- 
mother. 44 We had a very pleasant drive, thank 
you,” she said, and her pretty, graceful manner 
brought a smile of approbation to her grand- 
mother’s face. 

44 I’m glad you did, my dear. Where did you 
go?” 


138 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ We drove in the park, and along the avenue,” 
said King, uncertain whether to mention the soda 
water episode or not. 

But Marjorie’s frankness impelled her to tell 
the story. “ We stopped at a drug shop, 
Grandma, on our way home, and had soda water,” 
she said ; “ I hope you don’t mind.” 

“ You stopped at a drug shop ! ” exclaimed 
Grandma Maynard. “ You four children alone! ” 

“We weren’t alone,” explained Marjorie. 
“ Parker went in with us, and he paid for it. 
Wasn’t it all right, Grandma? ” 

“No; children ought not to go in a shop with- 
out older people with them.” 

“ But Parker is older than we are,” said Kitty, 
who was of a literal nature. 

“ Don’t be impertinent, Kitty,” said her grand- 
mother. “ I do not refer to servants.” 

Now Kitty had not had the slightest intention 
of being impertinent, and so the reproof seemed a 
little unfair. 

Unable to control her indignation, when she 
saw Kitty’s feelings were hurt, Marjorie tried 
to justify her sister. 

“ Kitty didn’t mean that for impertinence, 
Grandma Maynard,” she said. “ We didn’t know 
it wasn’t right to go for soda water alone, for we 
always do it at home. The only thing that both- 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 139 


ered me was because I didn’t have the money to 
pay for it.” 

“ The money is of no consequence, child ; and 
I suppose you do not know that in the city, chil- 
dren cannot do quite the same as where you live. 
However, we will say no more about the matter.” 

This was a satisfactory termination of the sub- 
ject, but Grandma’s manner was not pleasant, 
and the children felt decidedly uncomfortable. 

Their own parents had listened to the discussion 
in silence, but now their father said, 44 Don’t be 
too hard on them, Mother; they didn’t mean to 
do anything wrong. And they are good children, 
if not very conventional ones.” 

But Grandma Maynard only said, 44 We need 
not refer to the matter again,” and then she told 
the children to go to their supper, which was ready 
for them. 

As the four sat down to a prettily-appointed 
table, they were not a happy looking crowd. 
Rosamond was too young to understand what it 
was all about, but she knew that the other three 
were depressed and that was a very unusual state 
of things. 

44 1 don’t want any supper,” began Kitty, but 
this speech was too much for King. Kitty was 
very fond of good things to eat, and for her to 
lose her appetite was comical indeed! 


140 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


A pleasant-faced maid waited on them, and 
when Kitty saw the creamed sweet-breads and fresh 
peas and asparagus, with delightful little tea bis- 
cuits, her drooping spirits revived, and she quite 
forgot that Grandma had spoken sharply to 
her. 

44 You’re all right, Kit,” said King, approvingly. 
44 1 was frightened when you said you had lost 
your appetite, but I guess it was a false alarm.” 

44 It was,” said Kitty. 44 1 do love sweet- 
breads.” 

44 And there’s custard pudding to come, Miss 
Kitty,” said the maid, who smiled kindly on the 
children. In fact, she smiled so kindly that they 
all began to feel more cheerful, and soon were 
laughing and chatting quite in their usual way. 

44 What is your name, please?” inquired Mar- 
jorie, and the maid answered, 44 Perkins.” 

44 Well, Perkins, do you know what we are to 
do to-morrow? Has Grandma made any plans 
for us?” 

44 Oh, yes, Miss Marjorie; she made the plans 
some weeks ago, as soon as she heard you were 
coming. She is giving a children’s party for you 
to-morrow afternoon.” 

44 A children’s party ! How kind of her ! ” 
And Marjorie quite forgot Grandma’s disapprov- 
ing remarks about the soda water escapade. 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 141 


“ Oh, I don’t know,” said King. 44 I expect 
a children’s party here will be rather grownuppish.” 

“ Oh, no, Master King,” said Perkins ; 64 there 
are only children invited. Young boys and girls 
of your own age. I’m sure it will be a very nice 
party.” 

44 I’m sure of it, too,” said Marjorie, 44 and I 
think it was awfully good of her, as we’re to be 
here such a short time.” 

44 Well, she needn’t have said I was impertinent, 
when I wasn’t,” said Kitty, who still felt aggrieved 
at the recollection. 

44 Oh, never mind that, Kit,” said good-natured 
Marjorie. 44 As long as you didn’t mean to be, it 
doesn’t really matter.” 

When the supper was over, Rosamond was sent 
to bed, and the other three were allowed to sit in 
the library for an hour. The ladies were dressing 
for dinner, but Grandpa Maynard came in and 
talked to them for a while. 

At first they were all very grave and formal, 
but by a lucky chance, King hit upon a subject 
that recalled Grandpa’s boyish days, and the old 
gentleman chuckled at the recollection. 

44 Tell us something about when you were a 
boy,” said Marjorie. 44 1 do believe, Grandpa, 
you were fond of mischief ! ” 

44 1 was ! ” and Grandpa Maynard smiled 


142 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


genially. 44 I believe I got into more scrapes than 
any boy in school ! ” 

44 Then that’s where we inherited it,” said Mar- 
jorie. 44 I’ve often wondered why we were so full 
of capers. Was Father mischievous when he was 
a boy? ” 

“ Yes, he was. He used to drive his mother 
nearly crazy by the antics he cut up. And he 
was always getting into danger. He would climb 
the highest trees, and swim in the deepest pools ; 
he was never satisfied to let any other boy get 
ahead of him.” 

44 That accounts for his being such a success- 
ful man,” said King. 

44 Yes, perhaps it does, my boy. He was ener- 
getic and persistent and ambitious, and those 
qualities have stood by him all his life.” 

44 But, Grandpa,” said Marjorie, who had sud- 
denly begun to feel more confidential with her 
grandfather, 44 why, then, do you and Grandma 
want us children to be so sedate and poky and 
quiet and good? At home we’re awfully noisy, 
and here if we make a breath of noise we get repri- 
manded ! ” 

44 Well, you see, Marjorie, Grandma and I are 
not as young as we were, and we’re so unused 
now to having children about us, that I dare say 
we do expect them to act like grown people. And, 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 143 


too, your grandmother is of a very formal nature, 
and she requires correct behavior from everybody. 
So I hope you will try your best while you’re 
here not to annoy her.” 

“Indeed, we will try, Grandpa,” said Mar- 
jorie. “ I think she’s very kind to make a party 
for us to-morrow, and I’m sure we ought to behave 
ourselves. But, Grandpa, you don’t know what 
it is to have to sit so stiff and still when you’re 
accustomed to racing around and yelling.” 

“Yes, I suppose that is so; though I didn’t 
know that you were noisy children. Now I’ll tell 
you what you can do. You can go up in the big 
billiard room on the top floor of the house, and 
there you can make all the noise you like. You 
can play games or tell stories or do whatever you 
choose.” 

“Oh! that’s lovely, Grandpa,” and Marjorie 
threw her arms around his neck. “ And won’t 
anybody hear us if we make an awful racket ? ” 

“ No, the room is too far distant. Now run 
along up there, and you can have a pillow-fight if 
you want to. I believe that’s what children en- 
joy-” 

“ Well, you come with us, Grandpa, and show 
us the way,” said Kitty, slipping her hand in 
his. 

And with Marjorie on the other side, and King 


144 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


close behind, they all went upstairs. The billiard 
room, though not now used for its original pur- 
pose, was large and pleasant. There was not 
much furniture in it, but a cushioned seat ran 
nearly all round the room with many pillows on it. 
As soon as they were fairly in the room, Marjorie 
picked up a soft and fluffy pillow, and tossed it 
at her grandfather, hitting him squarely in the 
back of the neck. 

The others were a little frightened at Marjorie’s 
audacity, and Grandpa Maynard himself was 
startled as the pillow hit him. But as he turned 
and saw Marjorie’s laughing face, he entered into 
the spirit of the game, and in a moment pillows 
were flying among the four, and shouts of merri- 
ment accompanied the fun. 

Grandpa Maynard took off his glasses, and put 
them in his pocket for safekeeping, and soon he 
was the merriest one of all. 

But suddenly he recollected that it was time for 
him to attend to his own duties as host. 

u You young rascals,” he said, “ I don’t know 
how you inveigled me into this disgraceful per- 
formance! Here I am all dishevelled, and in a 
few moments I must preside at dinner ! ” 

“ Oh, you’re all right,” said Marjorie, patting 
his necktie; “ just brush your hair over again, 
and put your glasses on, and you’ll look fine. 


AT GRANDMA MAYNARD’S 145 


And we’re much obliged to you, Grandpa, for play- 
ing so jolly with us.” 

“Well, well, I’m surprised at myself! But re- 
member this kind of play is only to be indulged 
in when you’re up here. When you’re downstairs, 
you must be polite and quiet-mannered, or else 
Grandma won’t be pleased.” 

“ All right,” said Marjorie. “ We promise we 
will,” and all the others agreed. 


CHAPTER XIII 


a children’s party 

The next day the children tried very hard to be 
good. It was not easy, for Grandma seemed espe- 
cially punctilious, and reprimanded them for every 
little thing. She told them of the party in the 
afternoon, and taught them how to make curtseys 
to greet the guests. 

46 1 know how to curtsey,” said Marjorie. 44 1 
always do it at home, when mother has callers. 
But I don’t curtsey to children.” 

44 Yes, you must,” said Grandma. 44 1 don’t 
want my grandchildren behaving like a lot of 
rustics.” 

This speech greatly offended Marjorie, and it 
was wdth difficulty that she refrained from answer- 
ing that they were not rustics. But she con- 
trolled herself, and said that of course she would 
curtsey to the young guests if Grandma wished 
her to. 

44 Now that’s a little lady,” said Grandma, ap- 
provingly, and Marjorie felt glad that she hadn’t 
given way to her irritation. 

146 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 


147 


“What time is the party, Grandma?” asked 
Kitty. 

“From four to six, Kitty; but you children 
must be dressed, and in the drawing-room at 
quarter before four.” 

The day dragged along, as there was nothing 
especial to do and no way to have any fun. 
Grandpa Maynard had gone out with their 
father, and though the children went up in 
the billiard room, they didn’t feel just like 
romping. 

“ I hate this house ! ” said King, unable to re- 
press the truth any longer. 

“ So do I ! ” said Kitty. “ If we stay here 
much longer, I’ll run away.” 

This surprised the other two, for Kitty was 
usually mild and gentle, and rarely gave way to 
such speech as this. 

“ It’s Grandma Maynard that makes the 
trouble,” said King. “ She’s so pernickety and 
fussy about us. I’d behave a great deal better 
if she’d let me alone. And Grandpa wouldn’t 
bother about us if Grandma didn’t make him.” 

“ I don’t think you ought to talk like that, 
King,” said Marjorie. “ Somehow, it doesn’t seem 
right. It isn’t respectful, and all that, and it 
doesn’t seem a nice thing to do.” 

“That’s so, Mops; you’re just right!” said 


143 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


King, taking the reproof in good part, for he knew 
it was merited. “ It’s a whole lot worse to be 
disrespectful about your grandpeople than to carry 
on and make a racket, I think.” 

“ Yes, it is,” said Marjorie, “ and I say the 
rest of the time we’re here, let’s try to do just 
right. Because it’s only two or three days any- 
way. I think we’re going on day after to-mor- 
row.” 

So they all agreed to try afresh to behave cor- 
rectly, and on the whole succeeded pretty well. 

Promptly at quarter of four that afternoon they 
presented themselves in the drawing-room for 
Grandma’s inspection. 

“ You look very well,” Grandma said, nodding 
her head approvingly at the girls’ frilly white 
dresses and King’s correct clothes. Now I trust 
you’ll behave as well as you look.” 

66 What do you want us to do, Grandma? ” 
asked Marjorie. “ I mean to entertain the boys 
and girls.” 

“ Oh, nothing of that sort, child ; the entertain- 
ment will be provided by a professional enter- 
tainer. You have only to greet the guests prop- 
erly, and that is all you need do.” 

Marjorie did not know quite what a professional 
entertainer was, but it sounded interesting, and 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 149 

she was quite sure she could manage to greet the 
guests politely. 

Although Marjorie’s mother was in the room, she 
had little to say, for Grandma Maynard was ac- 
customed to dominate everything in her own house. 
And as her ideas were not entirely in accord with 
those of her daughter-in-law, the younger Mrs. 
Maynard thought it wise not to obtrude her own 
opinions. 

Promptly at four o’clock the children began 
to come. The Maynards stood in a group at 
one end of the long room, and as each guest 
arrived, a footman stationed at the doorway an- 
nounced the name in a loud voice. Then each 
little guest came and curtsied to the receiving 
party, and after a few polite remarks, passed 
on, and was ushered to a seat by another foot- 
man. 

The seats were small, gilt chairs with red 
cushions, arranged all round the wall, and there 
were about forty. 

In a short time the guests were all in their 
places, and then the Maynards were shown to their 
seats. 

Then the professional entertainer arrived. She 
proved to be a pretty and pleasant young lady, 
and she wore a light blue satin gown and a pink 
rose in her hair. 


150 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


First, she sang a song for them, and then she 
told a story, and then she recited a poem. 

Then she asked the children what they would 
like to have next. At first no one responded, and 
then a little girl said, “ Won’t you sing us another 
song, please. You sing so delightfully.” 

Marjorie looked in amazement at the child who 
talked in such grownup fashion. But the enter- 
taining lady did not seem to think it strange, and 
she replied, “ Yes, I will sing for you with 
pleasure.” 

So she sang another song, but though it was 
pretty music, Marjorie could not understand the 
words, and she began to think that the programme 
was rather tiresome. 

The lady kept on telling stories and reciting 
poems, and singing, until Marjorie almost had the 
fidgets. It seemed so unlike her notion of a chil- 
dren’s party, to sit still and listen to a programme 
all the afternoon, and she grew cramped and tired, 
and longed for it to be over. But the city chil- 
dren did not seem to feel that way at all. They 
sat very demurely with their hands clasped, and 
their slippered feet crossed, and applauded po- 
litely at the proper times. Marjorie glanced at 
King and Kitty, and their answering glances 
proved that they felt exactly as she did herself. 
However, all three were determined to do the right 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 


151 


thing, and so they sat still, and tried to look as 
if they were enjoying themselves. 

At half-past five the programme came to an end, 
and the children were invited to go out into the 
dining-room for the feast. 

The dining-room was transformed into a place 
of beauty. Small tables accommodated six guests 
each, and at each place was a lovely basket of 
flowers with a big bow of gauze ribbon on the 
handle. Each table had a different color, and the 
flowers in the basket matched the ribbon bow. 
Marjorie’s basket was filled with pink sweet peas, 
while at another table Kitty had lavender pansies, 
and King found himself in front of a basket of 
yellow daisies. 

The feast, as might have been expected at 
Grandma Maynard’s, was delicious, but the May- 
nard children could not enjoy it very much be- 
cause of their environment. They were not to- 
gether, and each one being with several strangers, 
felt it necessary to make polit<? conversation. 

King tried to talk on some interesting subject 
to the little girl who sat next him. 

44 Have you a flower garden? ” he said. 

44 Oh, no, indeed ; we live in the city, so we can’t 
very well have a flower garden.” 

44 No, of course not,” agreed King. 44 You see, 
we live in the country, so we have lots of flowers.” 


152 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 It must be dreadful to live in the country,” 
commented the little girl, with a look of scorn. 

44 It isn’t dreadful at all,” returned King ; 44 and 
just now, in springtime, it’s lovely. The flowers 
are all coming out, and the birds are hopping 
around, and the grass is getting green. What 
makes you say it’s dreadful P ” 

“ Oh, I don’t like the country,” said the child, 
with a shrug of her little shoulders. 4 4 The grass 
is wet, and there aren’t any pavements, and every- 
thing is so disagreeable.” 

44 You’re thinking of a farm; I don’t mean that 
kind of country,” and then King remembered that 
he ought not to argue the question, but agree with 
the little lady, so he said, 44 But of course if you 
don’t like the country, why you don’t, that’s 
all.” 

44 Yes, that’s all,” said the little girl, and then 
the conversation languished, for the children seemed 
to have no subjects in common. 

At her table, Marjorie was having an equally 
difficult time. There was a good-looking and 
pleasant-faced boy sitting next to her, so she said, 
44 Do you have a club ? ” 

44 Oh, no,” returned the boy ; 44 my father be- 
longs to clubs, but I’m too young.” 

44 But I don’t mean that kind,” explained 
Marjorie; 44 1 mean a club just for fun. We 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 153 

have a Jinks Club, — we cut up jinks, you 
know.” 

“ How curious!” said the boy. “ What are 
jinks? ” 

Marjorie thought the boy rather silly not to 
know what jinks were, for she thought any one 
with common sense ought to know that, but she 
said, “ Why, jinks are capers, — mischief, — any 
kind of cutting up.” 

“ And you have a club for that? ” exclaimed the 
boy, politely surprised. 

“ Yes, we do,” said Marjorie, determined to 
stand up for her own club. “ And we have lovely 
times. We do cut up jinks, but we try to make 
them good jinks, and we play all over the house, 
and out of doors, and everywhere.” 

“ It must be great fun,” said the boy, but he said 
it in such an uninterested tone that Marjorie gave 
up talking to him, and turned her attention to 
the neighbor on her other side. 

When the supper was over, the young guests 
all took their leave. Again the Maynards stood 
in a group to receive the good-byes, and every 
child expressed thanks for the afternoon’s pleas- 
ure in a formal phrase, and curtsied, and went 
away. 

When they had all gone, the Maynard children 
looked at each other, wondering what to do next. 


154 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 You may go up to the billiard room and play, 
if you like,” said Grandma, benignly. 44 You will 
not want any other supper to-night, I’m sure; 
so you may play up there until bedtime.” 

Rosy Posy was carried away by the nurse, but 
the three other children started for the billiard 
room. Marjorie, however, turned back to say, 
44 We all thank you, Grandma Maynard, for the 
party you gave us.” 

Kitty and King murmured some sort of phrase 
that meant about the same thing, but as they had 
not enjoyed the party at all they didn’t make their 
thanks very effusive, and then the three walked 
decorously upstairs. But once inside the billiard 
room, with the door shut, they expressed their 
opinions. 

44 That was a high old party, wasn’t it ? ” said 
King. 

44 The very worst ever ! ” declared Kitty. 44 1 
never got so tired of anything in my life, as I did 
listening to that entertaining person, or whatever 
they call her.” 

44 It was an awful poky party,” said Marjorie, 
44 but I think we ought to give Grandma credit 
for meaning to give us pleasure. Of course she’s 
used to children who act like that, and she couldn’t 
even imagine the kind of parties we have at home, 
where we frolic around and have a good time. So 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 


155 


I say don’t let’s jump on her party, but remember 
that she did it for us, and she did it the best she 
knew how.” 

“ You’re a good sort, Mopsy,” said King, look- 
ing at his sister affectionately. “ What you say 
is all right, and it goes. Now let’s cut out that 
party and try to forget it.” 

There were some quiet games provided for the 
children, and so they played parcheesi and authors 
until bedtime, for though the billiard room was 
hardly within hearing of their grandparents, 
yet they did not feel like playing romping 
games. 

“ I don’t think I shall ever holler again,” said 
King. “ I’m getting so accustomed to holding my 
breath for fear I’ll make too much noise that I’ll 
probably always do so after this.” 

“ No, you won’t,” said practical Kitty. “ As 
soon as you get away from Grandma Maynard’s 
house you’ll yell like a wild Indian.” 

“ I expect I will,” agreed King. “ Come on, 
let’s play Indians now.” 

“Nope,” said Marjorie; “we’d get too noisy, 
and make mischief. I’m going to bed; I’m awfully 
tired.” 

“ So’m I,” said Kitty. “ Parties like that are 
enough to wear anybody out ! ” 

They all went downstairs to their bedrooms, but 


156 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


as Marjorie passed the door of her grandmother’s 
room, she paused and looked in. 

44 May I come in, Grandma? ” she said. 44 I do 
love to see you in your beautiful clothes. You 
look just lovely.” 

Marjorie’s compliment was very sincere, for she 
greatly admired her grandmother, and in spite of 
her formality, and even severity, Marjorie had a 
good deal of affection for her. 

The maid was just putting the finishing touches 
to Mrs. Maynard’s costume, and as she stood ? 
robed in mauve satin, with sparkling diamond or- 
naments, she made a handsome picture. Mrs. 
Maynard was a beautiful woman, and exceedingly 
young-looking for her age. There was scarcely a 
thread of gray in her dark brown hair, and the 
natural roses still bloomed on her soft cheeks. 

Marjorie had not seen her grandmother before in 
full evening attire, and she walked round, gazing 
at her admiringly. 

44 I don’t wonder my father is such a handsome 
man,” she said. 44 He looks ever so much like 
you.” 

Grandma Maynard was pleased at this naive 
compliment, for she knew Marjorie was straight- 
forward and sincere. She smiled at her little 
granddaughter, saying, 44 I’m glad you’re pleased 
with your family’s personal appearance, and I 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 


157 


think some day you will grow up to be a pretty 
young lady yourself ; but you must try to remem- 
ber that handsome is as handsome does.” 

Marjorie’s adaptable nature quickly took color 
from her surroundings and influences, and gazing 
at her refined and dignified grandmother, she said 
earnestly, 44 When I grow up, Grandma, I hope 
I’ll look just like you, and I hope I’ll behave just 
like you. I am rather a naughty little girl; but 
you see I was bom just chock-full of mischief, 
and I can’t seem to get over it.” 

44 You are full of mischief, Marjorie, but I think 
you will outgrow it. Why, if you lived with me, 
I believe you’d turn my hair white in a single 
night.” 

44 That would be a pity, Grandma,” and Mar- 
jorie smiled at the carefully waved brown locks 
which crowned her grandma’s forehead. 

44 Now I’m going down to dinner, Marjorie, — 
we have guests coming. But if you like, you 
may amuse yourself for a little while looking 
round this room. In that treasure cabinet are 
many pretty curios, and I know I can trust you 
to be careful of my things.” 

44 Thank you, Grandma ; I will look about here 
for a little while, and indeed I will be careful not 
to harm anything.” 

So Grandma’s satin gown rustled daintily down 


158 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


the stairs, and Marjorie was left alone in her 
beautifully appointed bedroom. 

She opened the treasure cabinet, and spent a 
pleasant half hour looking over the pretty things 
il contained. She was a careful child, and touched 
the things daintily, putting each back in its right 
place after she examined it. 

Then she locked the glass doors of the cabinet, 
and walked leisurely about the room, looking at 
the pretty furnishings. The dainty toilet table 
interested her especially, and she admired its vari- 
ous appointments, some of which she did not even 
know the use of. One beautiful carved silver 
affair she investigated curiously, when she discov- 
ered it was a powder box, which shook out scented 
powder from a perforated top. Marjorie amused 
herself, shaking some powder on her hand, and 
flicking it on her rosy cheeks. It was a fascinat- 
ing little affair, for it worked by an unusual sort 
of a spring, and Marjorie liked to play with it. 

She wandered about the room with the powder- 
box still in her hand, and as she paused a moment 
at Grandma’s bedside, a brilliant idea came to her. 

The bed had been arranged for the night. The 
maid had laid aside the elaborate lace coverlet and 
pillow covers, had deftly turned back the bed cloth- 
ing in correct fashion, and had put Grandma’s 
night pillow in place. 


A CHILDREN’S PARTY 


159 


For some reason, as Marjorie looked at the pil- 
low, there flashed across her mind what Grandma 
had said about her hair turning white in a single 
night, and acting on a sudden impulse, Marjorie 
shook powder from the silver box all over Grand- 
ma’s pillow. Then chuckling to herself, she re- 
placed the powder-box on the dressing table, and 
went to her own room. 


CHAPTER XIV 


A MERRY JOKE 

The next morning, while Marjorie was dressing, 
she heard a great commotion in the halls. Peep- 
ing out her door she saw maids running hither and 
thither with anxious, worried faces. She heard 
her grandmother’s voice in troubled accents, and 
Grandfather seemed to be trying to soothe her. 

Naughty Marjorie well knew what it was all 
about, and chuckled with glee as she finished dress- 
ing, and went down to breakfast. 

She found the family assembled in the breakfast 
room, and Grandma Maynard telling the story. 
“ Yes,” she said, “ I knew perfectly well that to 
have these children in the house, with their noise 
and racket, would so get on my nerves that it 
would turn my hair white, and it has done so ! ” 
Marjorie looked at Grandma Maynard’s hair, 
and though not entirely white, it was evenly gray 
all over. As she had laid her head on her plenti- 
fully-powdered pillow, and perhaps restlessly 
moved it about, the powder had distributed itself 
pretty evenly, and the result was a head of gray 
160 


A MERRY JOKE 161 

hair instead of the rich brown tresses of the night 
before. 

Her son and daughter-in-law could not believe 
that this effect was caused by the disturbance made 
by their own children; but far less did they sus- 
pect the truth of the matter. Whatever opinions 
the various members of the family held as to the 
cause of the phenomenon, not one of them sus- 
pected Marjorie’s hand in the matter. 

As for Midget herself, she was convulsed with 
glee, although she did not show it. Never had 
she played a joke which had turned out so amaz- 
ingly well, and the very fact that neither Kitty 
nor King knew anything about it lessened the 
danger of detection. 

“ It seems incredible,” Grandma went on, 64 that 
this thing should really happen to me, for I’ve so 
often feared it might; and then to think it should 
come because the visit of my own grandchildren 
was so upsetting to my nerves ! ” 

44 Nonsense, Mother,” said her son, 44 it couldn’t 
have been that ! It isn’t possible that the children, 
no matter how much they carried on, would have 
any such effect as that ! ” 

44 You may say so, Ed; but look at the effect, 
and then judge for yourself; what is your expla- 
nation of this disaster that has come to me? ” 

44 1 don’t know, I’m sure, Mother, — but it 


162 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


couldn’t be what you suggest. I’ve heard of such 
an accident happening to people, but I never be- 
lieved it before. Now I’m forced to admit it must 
be true. What do you think, Helen?” 

Mrs. Maynard looked thoughtful. “ I don’t 
know,” she said slowly, “ but it must be the symp- 
tom of some disease or illness that has suddenly 
attacked Mother Maynard.” 

“ But I’m perfectly well,” declared the older 
lady ; “ and a thing like this doesn’t happen with- 
out some reason; and there’s no reason for it, ex- 
cept some great mental disturbance, and I’ve had 
nothing of that sort except the visit of these chil- 
dren ! Ed, you’ll have to take them away.” 

“ I think I shall have to,” said Mr. Maynard, 
gravely. It was a great trial to him that his par- 
ents could not look more leniently upon his chil- 
dren. He had rarely brought them to visit their 
grandparents, because it always made his mother 
nervous and irritable. But it was too absurd to 
think that such nervousness and irritation could 
cause her brown hair to turn almost white, a pro- 
ceeding which he had always thought was a mere 
figure of speech anyway. 

Breakfast proceeded in an uncomfortable silence. 
It was useless to try to console Grandma May- 
nard, or to make her think that the gray hair was 
becoming to her. Indeed, everything that was said 


A MERRY JOKE 


163 


only made her more disconsolate about the fate 
which had overtaken her, and more annoyed at 
the children, whom she considered to blame. 

At last, sharp-eyed, practical Kitty volunteered 
the solution. She had sat for some time watching 
her grandmother, and at last she felt sure that 
she saw grains of powder fall from the gray hair 
to the shoulder of Grandma’s gown. When she 
was fully convinced that this was the case, she 
looked straight at the victim of misfortune and 
said, 44 Grandma, I think you are playing a trick 
on us. I think you have powdered your hair, and 
you are only pretending it has turned gray.” 

44 What do you mean, Kitty, child?” said her 
father, in amazement, for it almost seemed as if 
Kitty were rebuking her grandmother. 

44 Why, just look, Father! There is powder 
shaking down on Grandma’s shoulder.” 

44 Nonsense!” cried Grandma, angrily. 44 I’d be 
likely to do a thing like that, wouldn’t I, Miss 
Kitty? And indeed, if it were powder, and could 
be brushed out, and leave my hair its natural color, 
I should be only too grateful ! ” 

This was Marjorie’s chance. She loved to make 
a sensation, and laying down her knife and fork, 
she said, quietly, 44 Kitty is right, Grandma ; it is 
nothing but powder, and I put it there myself.” 

44 What ! ” exclaimed Grandma. 44 Do you mean 


164 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


to say, Marjorie, that you powdered my hair? 
How did you do it? Oh, child, if you are telling 
me the truth, if it is really only powder, I shall be 
so relieved that I will make you a handsome pres- 
ent ! ” 

This was a new turn of affairs, indeed! Mar- 
jorie had had misgivings as to the results of her 
practical joke, but it had seemed to her merely a 
harmless jest, and she had hoped that it might 
be taken lightly. But when Grandma expressed 
such consternation at her whitened hair, Marjorie 
had been shaking in her shoes, lest she should be 
punished, rather than laughed at for her trick. 
And now to be offered a beautiful present was 
astonishing, truly! The ways of grownups were 
surely not to be counted upon! 

With lightened spirits, then, and with sparkling 
eyes, Marjorie completed her confession. “ Yes,” 
she went on, “ after you said last night that you 
b’lieved us children could turn your hair white in 
a single night, I thought I’d make believe we did. 
So, — and you know, Grandma, you told me I 
could stay around in your room for a while, and 
look at your pretty things, — so, when I saw that 
queer sort of a powder-shaker I couldn’t help 
playing with it. And then when I saw your bed 
all fixed so nice for the night, I thought it 
would be fun to powder your pillow. I’ve heard 


A MERRY JOKE 


165 


of people doing it before. I didn’t make it up 
myself. So I shook the powder all over your pil- 
low, and then of course you put your head on it, 
and of course it made your hair white.” 

Marjorie’s parents looked aghast, for to them it 
seemed as if she had simply played a practical 
joke on her grandmother, and one not easily for- 
given, but Grandpa Maynard expressed himself in 
a series of chuckles. 

44 Chip of the old block,” he said. 44 Chip of the 
old block! Just what you would have done, Ed, 
when you were a boy, if you had thought of it! 
Marjorie, practical jokes run in the family, and 
you can’t help your propensity for them ! I don’t 
approve of them, mind you, I don’t approve of 
them, but once in a while when one works out so 
perfectly, I can’t help enjoying it. What do you 
say, Mother? ” 

He turned to his wife, and to the surprise of 
all, she was beaming with joy. It was not so much 
her enjoyment of the joke as her relief at finding 
that her hair had not turned gray, and could 
easily be restored to its beautiful brown. 

44 I’m quite sure I ought to be annoyed,” she 
said, smiling at Marjorie. 44 I’m almost certain I 
ought to be very angry, and I know you ought 
to be punished. But none of these things are go- 
ing to happen. I’m so glad that it is only a joke 


166 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


that I forgive the little jokemaker, and as I prom- 
ised, I will give you a present as an expression of 
my gratitude.” 

And so the breakfast ended amid general hilar- 
ity, and afterward Grandma took Marjorie up to 
her own room, and they had a little quiet talk. 

“ I don’t want you to misunderstand me, dear,” 
she said, “ for practical jokes are not liked by 
most people, and they’re not a nice amusement for 
a little girl. But, I’m afraid, Marjorie, that I 
have been too harsh and stem with you, and so I 
think we can even things up this way. I will pass 
over the rudeness and impertinence of your deed, 
if you will promise me not to make a practice of 
such jokes throughout your life. Or at least, we 
will say, on older people. I suppose a good- 
natured joke on your schoolfellows now and then 
does no real harm; but I want you to promise me 
never again to play such a trick on your elders.” 

“ I do promise, Grandma ; and I want to tell 
you that your kindness to me makes me feel more 
ashamed of my naughty trick than if you had 
punished me. You see, Grandma, I do these things 
without thinking, — I mean without thinking hard 
enough. When the notion flies into my head it 
seems so funny that I just have to go on and do 
it! But I am trying to improve, and I don’t cut 
up as many jinks as I used to.” 


A MERRY JOKE 


167 


“ That’s a good girl. Marjorie, I believe you’ll 
make a fine woman, and I wish I could have the 
training of you. How would you like to come 
and live with me ? ” 

“ That’s funny, Grandma,” said Midget, laugh- 
ing, 44 after all you’ve said about your not wanting 
us children in the house.” 

“ I know it ; and I can’t stand the whole lot of 
you at once, but I really do believe, Marjorie, 
that I’ll take you and bring you up. I shall 
speak to your father and mother about it at once.” 

44 Oh, Grandma, don’t ! ” And Marjorie clasped 
her hands, with a look of horror on her face. 
“ Don't ask me to leave Mother and Father! And 
King, and Kitty, and the baby ! Why, Grandma, 
I couldn't do it, any more than I could fly ! ” 

44 Why not? You don’t realize all I could do 
for you. We live much more handsomely than 
you do at home, and I would give you everything 
you wanted.” 

44 But, Grandma, all those things wouldn’t make 
any difference if I had to leave my dear people! 
Why, do you really s’pose I’d even think of such 
a thing! Why, I couldn’t live without my own 
father and mother ! I love you and Grandpa, and 
since you’ve been so kind and forgiving this morn- 
ing, I love you a lot more than I did; but, my 
goodness, gracious, sakes, I’d never live with any- 


168 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


body but my own special particular bunch of 
Maynards ! ” 

“ It’s a question you can’t decide for yourself, 
child. I shall speak to your parents about it, 
and they will appreciate better than you do the 
advantages it would mean for you to follow out 
my plan. Now I will give you the present I 
promised you, and I think it will be this very 
same silver powder-box. You probably do not 
use powder, but it is a pretty ornament to set on 
your dressing table, and I want you to let it 
remind you of your promise not to play practical 
jokes.” 

“Oh, thank you, Grandma,” said Marjorie, as 
she took the pretty trinket ; “ I’m glad to have it, 
because it is so pretty. And I will remember my 
promise, and somehow I feel sure I’m going to 
keep it.” 

“ I think you will, dear, and now you may run 
away for the present, as I am going to be busy.” 

Marjorie found King and Kitty in the billiard 
room, waiting for her. 

“ Well, you are the limit ! ” exclaimed King. 
“ How did you ever dare cut up that trick, Mops ? 
You got out of it pretty lucky, but I trembled 
in my boots at first. I don’t see how you 
dared play a joke on Grandma Maynard of all 
people ! ” 


A MERRY JOKE 


169 


44 Why didn’t you tell us about it? ” asked Kitty. 
44 Oh, did she give you that lovely powder-box? ” 

44 Yes,” laughed Marjorie, 44 as a reward for be- 
ing naughty ! And she’s going to reward me fur- 
ther. What do you think? She’s going to take 
me to live with her ! ” 

44 What ! ” cried King and Kitty, in the same 
breath. And then King grasped Marjorie by the 
arm. 44 You shan’t go! ” he cried. 44 1 won’t let 
you ! ” 

44 1 won’t either ! ” cried Kitty, grasping her 
other arm. 44 Why, Mops, we simply couldn’t 
live without you ! ” 

44 1 know it, you old goosey ! And I couldn’t 
live without you! The idea! As if any of us 
four Maynards could get along without any of 
each other ! ” 

44 1 just guess we couldn’t!” exclaimed King, 
and then as far as the children were concerned, the 
subject was dropped. 


CHAPTER XV 


A BIDE IN MAY 

At the breakfast table, the next morning, Grandma 
Maynard announced her intention of keeping her 
oldest grandchild with her as her own. 

Marjorie’s mother looked up with a frightened 
glance at this declaration, and she turned her face 
appealingly toward her husband. But when she 
saw the twinkle in his eye, she knew at once there 
was not the slightest danger of her losing her 
oldest daughter in this way. 

But, apparently by way of a joke, Mr. May- 
nard saw fit to pretend to approve of his mother’s 
plan. 

“ Why, Mother,” he said, “ wouldn’t that be 
fine ! This big house needs a young person in it, 
and as we have four, we ought to be able to spare 
one. You’ll have grand times, Midget, living here, 
won’t you ? ” 

If Marjorie had not been so overcome at the 
very thought of leaving her own family, she would 
have realized that her father was only joking; but 
she had been so truly afraid that her grand- 
170 


A RIDE IN MAY 171 

mother’s wishes might possibly be granted that she 
couldn’t realize her father’s intent. 

44 Oh, Father!” she cried, with a perfect wail 
of woe; and then, jumping from her seat at the 
table, she ran to her mother’s side, and flung her- 
self into her arms, where she gave way to one of 
her tumultuous crying spells. 

Poor little Marjorie was not greatly to blame. 
She had lain awake the night before, fearing that 
this thing might happen, and so was in no mood 
to appreciate a jest on the subject. 

Unwilling to have such a commotion at the 
breakfast table, Mrs. Maynard rose, and with her 
arm round the sobbing child, drew her away to 
an adjoining room, where she reassured her fears, 
and told her that her father did not at all mean 
what he had said. 

44 Now, you see, Mother,” Mr. Maynard went 
on, 44 how Midget feels about the matter. Well, 
my feelings are exactly the same, only I choose a 
different mode of expression. I’m sorry the child 
is so upset because I jokingly agreed to the plan, 
but she’ll get over it in a few minutes, with her 
mother’s help. And as you must know, Mother, 
we appreciate how fine it would be for Marjorie 
to live here, and be the petted darling of you 
two dear people, but you must also know that it 
is just as much out of the question for us to give 


172 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


you one of our children as it would be to give 
you the whole four ! ” 

44 That’s a gift I wouldn’t care for,” said 
Grandma Maynard, smiling at the other three; 
44 but I have taken a great fancy to Marjorie, and 
I know I could make her love me.” 

At this moment Marjorie and her mother re- 
turned, both with smiling, happy faces. Marjorie 
heard her grandmother’s last words, and running 
to her, she threw her arms around the old lady’s 
neck. 

64 1 do love you, Grandma,” she cried, 44 but of 
course you must know that I couldn’t leave my 
own Maynards. Why, we’re the ’votedest family 
you ever did see ! We couldn’t spare any one of 
each other ! And, Grandma, when you were a little 
girl twelve years old, you wouldn’t have gone away 
from your father and mother to live, would you? ” 

44 No, Marjorie, I don’t suppose I would,” ad- 
mitted Grandma Maynard, patting the little girl’s 
cheek ; 44 but perhaps when you’re older, dear, you 
may change your mind about this.” 

Marjorie looked thoughtful a moment, and then 
she said, 44 Grandma, I don’t truly think I will, but 
if I should I’ll let you know.” 

44 1 hadn’t an idea the child would come to live 
with us,” said Grandpa Maynard, 44 but how’s this 
for a suggestion? Let her come to visit us for a 


A RIDE IN MAY 


17S 


time every year. I believe she makes long visits 
to her other grandmother.” 

Marjorie smiled involuntarily at the thought of 
the difference between the homes of the two grand- 
mothers, but she said nothing, knowing from what 
her mother had told her that she would not be 
sent away from home unless she chose. 

“ Oh, Midget doesn’t visit Grandma Sherwood 
every year,” said Marjorie’s father. “ She only 
goes there once in four years. So to even matters 
up, suppose we let Marjorie come here and make 
a little visit next winter, with the understanding 
that if she gets homesick, she’s to be sent home 
at once.” 

Everybody agreed to this, and though Marjorie 
felt a positive conviction that she would get home- 
sick about the second day, yet Grandma Maynard 
made a silent resolve that she would make every- 
thing so attractive to Marjorie that the visit would 
be a long one. 

So the matter was settled for the present, and 
if King and Kitty felt a little chagrined at 
Grandma Maynard’s preference for Marjorie’s 
company over their own, they said nothing about it. 

That same afternoon, directly after luncheon, 
the Maynard family started once more on their 
automobile trip. 


174 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


As the big car drew up in front of the house, 
the children saw it with joy, but they did not 
express their feelings, as that would not be polite 
to their grandparents. 

But they were secretly delighted to see the big 
car again, with Pompton, whom they had not seen 
since they had been in New York, in his seat 
waiting for them. 

Then good-byes were said, and Grandma affec- 
tionately reminded Marjorie that she was to visit 
her in the winter, and then in a few moments the 
motor party was speeding away. 

They were scarcely a block from the house be- 
fore the children began to express their relief at 
being released from the uncongenial atmosphere of 
their grandparents’ home. 

“ I do declare,” said King. “ It was just like 
being in jail!” 

“ Have you ever been in jail? ” asked Kitty, who 
was nothing if not literal. 

“ Well, no,” returned her brother, “ and I hope 
I never shall be after this experience. Grandpa 
and Grandma Maynard are the limit! If I had 
stayed there another day, I should have run 
away ! ” 

Mr. Maynard, who was sitting in front with 
Pompton, turned round to the children. 

“ My dear little Maynards,” he said, “ unless 


A RIDE IN MAY 


175 


you want to hurt your father’s feelings very 
badly indeed, you will stop this severe criticism 
of your grandparents. You must remember that 
they are my father and mother, and that I love 
them very dearly, and I want you to do the same. 
If their ways don’t suit you, remember that chil- 
dren should not criticise their elders, and say noth- 
ing about them. If there is anything about 
them that you do like, comment on that, but 
remain silent as to the things that displeased 
you.” 

The Maynard children well knew that when their 
father talked seriously like this, it was intended as 
a grave reproof, and they always took it so. 

“ Father,” said King, manfully, 44 I was wrong 
to speak as I did, and I’m sorry, and I won’t do it 
again. We didn’t any of us like to be at Grandma 
Maynard’s, but I was the only one who spoke so 
disrespectfully. Midge and Kitty were awfully 
nice about it.” 

“ No, we weren’t,” confessed Kitty. 44 At least, 
I wasn’t. Midget said lots of times that we 
oughtn’t to be disrespectful, but I guess I was. 
But, you see, Father, it was awfully hard to please 
those people.” 

44 We didn’t understand them,” said Marjorie, 
thoughtfully. 44 When I tried to be good I got 
scolded, and when I cut up jinks they gave me a 


176 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


present for it ! Who could know what to do in a 
house like that ? ” 

Mr. Maynard smiled in spite of himself. 

“ I think you’ve struck it, Midget,” he said. 
“ Grandma and Grandpa Maynard are a little 
inconsistent, and don’t always know exactly what 
they do want. But that is largely because they 
are not very young, and they live alone, and are 
all unused to the vagaries of children. But these 
facts are to be accepted, not criticised, and I want 
you to remember, once for all, that you’re not to 
say anything further disrespectful or unkind about 
your grandparents. And I think I know you well 
enough to know that you’ll understand and obey 
these instructions without any more scolding on 
my part.” 

“ We will, Fathery,” said Midget, pounding on 
his arm with her little fists, by way of affectionate 
emphasis. 

“ Yes, we will ! ” agreed King, heartily. “ And 
so now let’s cut it out and have a good time.” 

And have a good time they did. Swiftly travers- 
ing the upper part of New York City, they con- 
tinued along delightful roads ; sometimes passing 
through towns, sometimes getting views of the 
shining waters of Long Island Sound, and some- 
times travelling through the green, open country. 

Partly because of the repression of the past few 


A RIDE IN MAY 


177 


days, and partly because of the exhilaration of 
the fresh spring air and the fast speeding motor, 
the four young Maynards were in a state of hilar- 
ity. They sang and they shouted and they 
laughed, and often they would grab each other 
with affectionate squeezes from sheer joy of 
living. 

44 I guess we couldn’t let old Mopsy go out of 
this bunch ! ” exclaimed King, as with a clever 
agility he pulled off both Midget’s hair-ribbons 
at once. 

This called for retaliation, and in a flash, Mar- 
jorie tweaked off his necktie. 

Nobody knew exactly the particular fun in this 
performance, for it only meant an immediate read- 
justment of the same ribbons, but it was a frequent 
occurrence, and usually passed unnoticed. 

44 And old Mopsy couldn’t stay away from this 
bunch, either,” returned Marjorie, in response to 
her brother’s remark. 44 Why, if I just tried it, 
I’m sure it would kill me ! ” 

44 I’m sure so, too,” agreed Kitty. <4 ,We just 
have to have each other all the time, we do! Oh, 
Mops, there are some marshmallows; mayn’t we 
get some, Mother ? ” 

Sure enough, the big pink blooms showed on the 
marshmallow bushes, and in a minute the children 
had scrambled out to get some. 


\ 


178 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


It was a muddy performance, for marshmallows 
have a way of growing in very swampy places, but 
the little Maynards didn’t mind that, or at least, 
they didn’t stop to think whether they did or not. 
Splash and paddle they went into the mud, but 
they succeeded in getting several of the beautiful 
flowers, and returned with them in triumph. 

“ Those are fine specimens,” said Mr. Maynard, 
“ but I can’t possibly let those six muddy shoes 
get into this car that Pompton keeps so beauti- 
fully clean! Would you mind walking on to New 
Haven ? ” 

The three looked at their shoes, and discovered 
that they were simply loaded with mud. Even 
when wiped off on the grass, they presented a 
most untidy appearance. 

But King came to his sisters’ rescue. 

“ I’ll tell you what,” he said. “ You girls take 
off your shoes as you get in, and I’ll take off 
mine as I get in, and then I’ll take some newspaper, 
and polish them all up.” 

This really was a good idea, and King worked 
diligently away until he had rubbed the muddy 
shoes into a fair state of civilization. 

Mr. Maynard, as he often did, composed a 
song for the occasion, and after once hearing 
it, the children took up the strain and sang 
heartily : 


A HIDE IN MAY 


179 


“ Old King Cole 
Rubbed a muddy old sole 

And a muddy old sole rubbed he ; 

For he polished each shoe 
Of his sisters two, 

And his own shoes, they made three ! 

Hurray, hurroo, hurree ! 

And his own shoes, they made three ! ” 

Mr. Maynard’s doggerel was always highly 
appreciated by the children, and they sang the 
pleasing ditty over and over, while King rubbed 
away at the shoes in time to the chorus. 

The sun was setting as they neared New Haven. 
The approach, along the shores of the beautiful 
harbor, was most picturesque, and both the chil- 
dren and their parents were impressed by the 
beauty of the scene. The setting sun turned the 
rippling water to gold, and the shipping loomed 
against the sky like a forest of bare tree-trunks. 

“Oh,” exclaimed Marjorie, clasping her, hands, 
“ isn’t it lovely to go motor-carring with your own 
dear family, and see such beautiful landscapes on 
the river? ” 

44 Your expressions are a little mixed,” said her 
father, laughing, 44 but I quite agree with your 
sentiments. And, now, who is ready for a good 
dinner? ” 

44 1 am,” declared Kitty, promptly ; and they 


180 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


all laughed, for Kitty was always the first in the 
dining-room. 

The automobile stopped in front of a large 
hotel which overlooked the College Green. While 
Mr. Maynard was engaging rooms, Mrs. Maynard 
and the children lingered on the veranda. The 
beautiful trees of the City of Elms waved high 
above their heads, and across the Green they could 
see the stately college buildings. 

44 Can we go over there? ” asked King, who was 
interested, because he hoped, himself, some day to 
go to college. 

44 Not to-night,” said his father, who had just 
rejoined the group; 44 to-morrow morning, King, 
we will all go through the college grounds and 
buildings. But now we will go to our rooms and 
freshen up a bit, and then we must get some dinner 
for our poor, famishing Kitty.” 

Kitty laughed good-naturedly, for she was used 
to jokes about her appetite, and didn’t mind them 
a bit. 

They went upstairs to a pleasant suite of rooms, 
one of which was for the use of Midge and 
Kitty. 

44 You must change your frocks for dinner,” 
said Mrs. Maynard to the girls. 44 The suitcases 
will be sent up, and you may put on your light 
challies.” 


A RIDE IN MAY 


181 


So Marjorie and Kitty made their toilettes, 
stopping now and then for frantic expressions of 
joy and delight at the fun they were having; and 
soon, with ribbons freshly tied, and dainty house 
slippers, they were ready to go downstairs. 


CHAPTER XVI 


AT THE CIRCUS 

The next morning the Maynard family visited 
Yale College. 

As Mrs. Maynard had seen most of the buildings 
before, she only cared to visit the newest ones, and 
so she and Rosy Posy spent most of the time 
wandering about the grounds or sitting on the 
benches beneath the Elms. Marjorie and Kitty 
rambled about as they liked, sometimes going 
through the buildings with their father and King, 
and sometimes staying with Mrs. Maynard and 
the baby. 

At luncheon time, Mr. Maynard asked the chil- 
dren what they would like best to do for an after- 
noon’s amusement. 

“ Aren’t we going on to Boston this afternoon? ” 
asked Marjorie, in surprise. 

“ No,” said her father, “ it’s a long trip, and so 
we’ll start to-morrow morning. Now you children 
may choose what you’d like to do this afternoon, 
for your mother and I are going to call on some 
friends, and we don’t want to take you with us.” 

183 


AT THE CIRCUS 


183 


“Well,” said Marjorie, “ I can’t think of any- 
thing we could do in New Haven, unless you or 
Mother were with us ; so I suppose we’ll just stay 
here at the hotel, and, ” 

“ And cut up jinks,” put in King. 

Mr. Maynard smiled. “ That’s exactly what 
you would do if I left you here by yourselves ! 
So what do you think of this plan? As we 
shall be gone all the afternoon, I think I will 
let Pompton take you four infants to the 
circus.” 

“ Oh, goody, goody! ” cried Marjorie. “ That 
will be perfectly gorgeous ! King, won’t it be fine 
to go to the circus ? ” 

“Yes, indeed! And it’s a big circus, — I saw 
the posters yesterday on our way here.” 

“ There are lovely wild animals ! ” said Kitty, 
ecstatically. “ I saw pictures of lions and tigers, 
— terrific ones ! ” 

“ Me loves tigers,” commented Rosy Posy. 
“ They eat peoples all up ! ” 

“ These don’t,” said Kitty. “ They’re trained 
ones, and they do tricks. Why, the man who 
trains them puts his hand right in their mouths ! ” 

“Ugh!” said Marjorie, with a shudder. “I 
don’t like that part of it. I wish they didn’t 
have the wild beasts. I like the people who swing 
on a long swing, ” 


184 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Trapeze,” said her father. 

44 Yes, a trapeze ; and they swing and catch each 
other by the feet. Oh, I love to see them! ” 

44 So do I,” said Kitty. 44 I love it all, — but I 
love the tigers best.” 

44 You must promise to behave yourselves,” said 
Mrs. Maynard. 44 Marjorie, I shall put the baby 
in your especial care, though of course Pompton 
will look out for you all. And you must all obey 
him, and do exactly as he tells you.” 

44 There isn’t much obeying to do,” said King. 
44 We just sit on seats and watch the show, don’t 
we?” 

44 Oh, we walk around and see the side-shows,” 
said Marjorie. 

44 Whatever you do,” said Mr. Maynard, 44 stay 
with Pompton, and do just as he tells you. He 
is a very intelligent man, and he will take care 
of you all right, and you must be kind and 
polite to him. Now scamper along and get 
ready.” 

The children were soon ready, and went gaily 
off with Pompton, waving good-byes to their par- 
ents, who stood on the hotel veranda. 

They did not go in their own automobile, but 
in a trolley-car, and the four children seated them- 
selves demurely, side by side, with Pompton at 
the end, next to Rosy Posy. 


AT THE CIRCUS 


185 


The ride was through a pleasant part of town, 
and on to the outskirts, where they soon came in 
sight of the circus tents. 

Pompton ushered his charges through the en- 
trance, and they found themselves in what seemed 
like a wilderness of tents, both large and small. 
As it was not yet time for the performance, they 
walked round, visiting the side-shows, and looking 
at the collection of “ freaks,” which is considered 
an important part of every circus. 

“ Mayn’t we have some popcorn, Pomp? ” asked 
Marjorie, as they passed a stand where that de- 
lectable refreshment was sold. 

“ Your ma said you were to have that after the 
show, Miss Marjorie. At least, that’s how I un- 
derstood it.” Pompton always took the children’s 
requests very seriously, and only granted them 
when he could do so conscientiously. 

44 Oh, she wouldn’t care, whether we had it be- 
fore or after,” said King ; “ but I’ll tell you what, 
Pomp, let’s have half now and half after the 
show.” 

“ Very well, Master King. I don’t suppose it 
does make any great matter. Will you have pink 
or white? ” 

44 Both,” said Kitty, who was authority on 
these matters ; “ and then we’ll have pink lemon- 
ade.” 


186 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ But you’ve just had your luncheon, Miss 
Kitty.” 

“ That doesn’t matter ; this is a sort of dessert. 
And of course if we have popcorn, we must have 
lemonade. Popcorn is so choky.” 

So the children had their refreshment, and then 
it was time to go to see the performance. 

Pompton took Rosy Posy in his arms, and the 
others following, they went into the big tent and 
were ushered to their places. 

Mr. Maynard had told Pompton to take a box, 
as in the small enclosure it was easier to keep an 
eye on the children, and make sure they did noth- 
ing they ought not to. For the little Maynards 
were impulsive, and though Pompton was wise and 
sensible, he was not entirely accustomed to their 
mischievous ways. 

“Isn’t this fun!” exclaimed Marjorie, as the 
usher showed them the small wooden enclosure with 
six hard chairs in it. 

“ Perfectly splendid ! ” agreed Kitty. “ And 
we can have this extra chair for our wraps and 
things.” 

So with great content they settled in their places 
to watch the circus. 

It began, as circuses usually do, with the chariot 
races, and these were Marjorie’s especial delight. 
She had been to the circus several times, and she 


AT THE CIRCUS 


187 


always enjoyed the classic-looking ladies who drove 
tumultuous horses, while they stood in gorgeously 
painted but very rattle-te-bang chariots. 

“ I should think they’d fall out behind,” com- 
mented Kitty. 

“ They would if the horses stopped suddenly,” 
said King. 

“ No, they wouldn’t,” said Marjorie. 44 If the 
horses stopped, they’d pitch over the dashboard; 
but the horses aren’t going to stop! Oh, there 
comes the blue one again ! Isn’t she a dandy ? 
King, I’d love to drive one of those chariots ! ” 

44 Don’t you try it on now, Miss Marjorie,” said 
Pompton, on hearing this speech. 

44 Of course, I won’t, Pomp,” said Marjorie, 
laughing. 44 1 only said I’d like to. Oh, now 
that’s all over, and they’re going to have the ladies 
and gentlemen who ride tip-toe on their horses. 
I think I like that next best to the trapeze 
people.” 

44 1 like it all,” said contented little Kitty, whose 
nature it was to take things as they came. 

Fascinated, they all watched the bare-back 
riding, and after that the acrobats, and then the 
trapeze performers. 

44 Wow ! but they’re wonders ! ” exclaimed King, 
as the trapezists swayed through the air, and 
caught flying rings or swings, and seemed every 


188 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


time to escape missing them only by a hairs- 
breadth. But they always caught them, and 
swung smilingly back, as if living up in the air 
were quite as pleasant as walking about on the 
ground. 

“Oh, I’d like to do that!” cried Marjorie, 
as with sparkling eyes she watched a young girl 
do a swinging specialty. 

King laughed. “ You’d like to do lots of these 
stunts, Midget, but let me advise you if you’re 
ever a circus performer, don’t try trapeze work; 
you’re too heavy. When you came down, you’d 
go smash through the net ! If you must be 
in a circus, you’d better stick to your chariot 
driving.” 

“ Now the trapeze number is over,” said Kitty, 
looking at her programme, “ and next will be the 
wild animals! I do love to see those.” 

“And I don’t,” said Marjorie, with a shudder. 
It was not exactly fear, but the child had a special 
aversion to watching the feats of trained wild ani- 
mals, and had often shut her eyes when such a 
performance was going on. 

The lions and tigers came in and took their 
places, and Kitty and King watched with interest 
as they obeyed the trainer’s word, and did as he 
bade them. 

But after a little time, Marjorie felt she could 


AT THE CIRCUS 


189 


stand it no longer. “ Pomp,” she said, “ I can’t 
bear to look at those animals another minute! 
This is the last number, and I’m going out. I’ll 
wait for you right by the door, just where we 
came into the tent.” 

Pompton looked at the child, kindly. Her face 
was white, and he saw that it really distressed her 
to watch the wild animals. 

“ Very well, Miss Marjorie,” he said; “ it’s but 
a few steps, so go on, if you like, and stay just 
outside the door until we come. Don’t wander 
away now.” 

“ No, Pompton, I won’t wander away, but I 
must get away from here.” 

Marjorie left the box, and went quietly out of 
the door of the tent. It was only a few steps, 
as their box was very near the entrance. 

There was a bench just outside the door, and 
the little girl sat down upon it, delighted to be 
away from the sights she did not care for. The 
fresh air and bright sunshine brought the color 
back to her cheeks, and she looked around her with 
interest. There was little to see, for the audience 
were all inside the great tent, and the performers 
were either on the stage or in their own dressing 
rooms. A pleasant-faced attendant spoke to her, 
and asked where her people were. 

“ They’re inside,” answered Marjorie, “ they’re 


190 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


coming out in a few moments, but I didn’t like 
this act, and I’m going to wait for them here.” 

“ All right, little one ; sit there as long as you 
like. I’ll be about here all the time, and if you 
want anything, you call me. My name’s Bill.” 

“ Thank you,” said Marjorie, and Bill went off 
whistling. He was a big, burly young man, with 
a kind voice and manner, and he seemed to be a 
hard-working circus hand. He was clearing up 
the place, and once in a while he glanced at Mar- 
jorie, as if to make sure she was all right. 

Marjorie sat still on the bench, her thoughts 
all on the performances she had seen. She won- 
dered if the circus people were like other people, 
for they seemed to her to be of a different race. 

As she was thinking, a young girl came out of 
a small tent nearby. She had a long cloak 
wrapped round her, but her gaily-dressed hair with 
silver stars pinned in it, made Marjorie feel sure 
she was one of the performers. She had a very 
pretty face, and she smiled pleasantly at Mar- 
jorie, as she said, “ What are you doing here, 
little girl P ” 

“ I’m waiting for my people,” said Marjorie. 
“ They’re coming out in a minute, but I couldn’t 
stand those fierce animals any longer.” 

“ How funny,” said the young lady, and she sat 
down in the seat beside Marjorie. “ Do you know 


AT THE CIRCUS 


191 


I always shiver when I look at the wild animals, 
too. I’ve been with the circus a year, and I can’t 
get used to those lions and tigers. I always think 
they’re going to spring at me, though I know 
perfectly well they’re not. Is that the way you 
feel? ” 

“ Yes, I feel just like that, and I know it’s silly, 
but I can’t help it. What do you do in the 
circus ? ” 

The girl partly flung open her long cloak, and 
disclosed her costume of spangled pink satin. 

44 I’m one of the trapeze performers ; you prob- 
ably saw me swing this afternoon.” 

44 Oh, are you really one of those swinging 
ladies? Do tell me about it, won’t you? Don’t 
you get dizzy, swinging through the air upside 
down ? ” 

44 No, we never get dizzy; that would never do! 
Why, we’d fall and break our necks, and I assure 
you we don’t want to do that ! ” 

44 Don’t you ever fall ? ” 

44 Oh, of course accidents have happened, but 
much more rarely than most people think. 
Trapeze performers are a very careful lot, and 
we seldom have an accident.” 

44 Are all those trapeze people your family?” 
asked Marjorie, for the troupe was billed as one 
family. 


192 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Many of them are, but not all. I have one 
sister who is an acrobat. She is really one of 
the best I ever saw for her age. She’s only twelve, 
and she can do wonderful feats for such a child.” 

44 I’m twelve,” said Marjorie, smiling, 44 but my 
brother says I’m too fat to do anything like 
that.” 

44 Yes, you are,” and the young lady smiled, 
showing her even, white teeth. She was a very 
pretty girl, and had a sweet, refined voice, which 
surprised Marjorie, as she had not thought circus 
people were like this. 

44 You do weigh too much to be very agile; 
my sister is slender, but very muscular. Would 
you like to see her? She’s right over there in our 
tent, with Mother.” 

44 Oh, I’d love to see her, but I mustn’t go away 
from here, for I told Pomp where to find me. 
He’ll be out soon.” 

44 Yes, the performance will be over in about 
five minutes. But I’d like you to see my sister. 
Her name is Vivian, and she’s so sweet and pretty ! 
But of course if you think you’d better stay here, 
I don’t want to persuade you. I must go back 
now myself. We’re really not allowed out here 
at this time.” 

Marjorie wanted very much to go in to the 
tent with the young lady, and to see the little 


AT THE CIRCUS 


193 


sister, and she wondered if she could in any way 
get word to Pompton telling him where she was. 
Just then Bill came round that way again, and 
smiled at her. 

“ Oh, Bill,” cried Marjorie, impulsively, 44 you 
said if I wanted anything to ask you. Now I 
want to go into the tent with this lady, — she says 
I may, — and won’t you please go in the big tent, 
and tell my people where I’ve gone? You can’t 
miss them, they’re in Box number five. An Eng- 
lishman named Pompton, who is our chauffeur, — 
and three children with him. Will you, Bill, 
’cause I want to see this lady’s little sister? ” 

44 Sure, I’ll ’tend to it, Miss. They won’t let 
me in myself, but I’ll fix it with the doorman, and 
it’ll be all right. Why, bless you, the tent isn’t 
a step away. Run along with Mademoiselle 
Cora.” 

44 Is that your name? What a pretty name,” 
said Marjorie, and giving Mademoiselle Cora her 
hand, the two crossed over to the little tent. 


CHAPTER XVII 


LITTLE VIVIAN 

It was about ten minutes later when Pompton and 
his three charges came out of the circus tent. 
There was a great crowd, and not seeing Marjorie 
at first, Pompton waited until most of the people 
had gone away, and then began to look around 
for her. 

44 I know she wouldn’t go very far away,” said 
King. 44 She must be quite near here.” 

44 I’m not so sure,” said Kitty. 46 You know 
how Marjorie runs off if she chooses, without 
thinking of other people.” 

44 I’m greatly worried, Master King,” said 
Pompton. 44 1 suppose I ought not to have let 
the child come out here alone. But she was so 
anxious to come, and she promised she’d stay right 
here by the door. I couldn’t come with her, and 
look after the rest of you at the same time now, 
could I ? ” 

44 Of course you couldn’t, Pompton,” said Kitty. 
44 You did quite right. And I don’t believe Mar- 
jorie is very far away; I think she’ll be back in 
a minute or two.” 


194 


LITTLE VIVIAN 


195 


But they waited several minutes, and the people 
who had been in the circus tent all went away. 
The grounds about were entirely cleared, and save 
for a few workmen, there was no one in sight. 
Uncertain what to do, Pompton appealed to the 
doorman, who just then came out with his hands 
full of tickets. 

“ Do you know anything about a little girl, 
about twelve years old, who came out of the tent 
a short time ago ? ” asked Pompton. 

“ Naw,” returned the man, curtly, paying little 
attention to the inquiry. 

“ But you must have seen her come out,” said 
King. “ She came out alone, before the perform- 
ance was over. She had on a long tan-colored 
coat.” 

“Aw, that kid? Yes, I seen her, but I don’t 
know where she went to.” 

“ But we must find her ! She’s my sister ! ” 
said Kitty, and the tears came into her eyes. 

The doorman looked at Pompton. “ You ought 
to keep yer kids together, an’ not let yer party 
get sep’rated.” 

“ It wasn’t Pompton’s fault at all ! ” cried King, 
indignantly. “ My sister came out here to wait 
for us, and of course she’s around here some- 
where. She must be in one of the tents. May we 
go and look for her? ” 


196 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Sure ! Go where you like. I s’pose she’s 
pokin’ around somewhere to see what’s goin’ on.” 

44 Of course she’s in one of the tents,” said 
Kitty, brightening at the idea. 44 Where shall we 
look first, King? ” 

Just then the man named Bill came along. 

44 Hello, youngsters,” he said. 44 Lookin’ fer 
that kid sister of yours? She told me to tell you 
where she’d gone, but, bless my soul, I forgot all 
about it ! ” 

44 Oh, where is she?” cried Kitty, clasping her 
hands, and looking up at Bill with pleading 
eyes. 

44 There, there, little one ! There ain’t no use 
gettin’ weepy about it. Sister’s all right. She 
just went in that there tent with Mademoiselle 
Cora.” 

Bill pointed to the tent, and King and Kitty 
made a dash for it. 

They fairly burst in at the door, and sure 
enough, there was Marjorie sitting on a big pack- 
ing box, watching a little girl who was perform- 
ing most remarkable athletic feats. 

44 Oh, hello,” cried Marjorie , 44 I’m so glad you’ve 
come! Just sit down here beside me, and watch 
Vivian. Mademoiselle Cora, this is my brother 
and sister.” 

King pulled off his cap, and felt a little uncer- 


LITTLE VIVIAN 


197 


tain as to what sort of etiquette this very strange 
situation demanded. But he bowed politely, and 
as Mademoiselle Cora smiled, and asked the two 
newcomers to be seated, and as there were plenty 
of packing boxes, King and Kitty sat down. 

“ This is Vivian,” said Marjorie, waving her 
hand toward the little acrobat, who was turning 
double somersaults with lightning rapidity. 
“ She’s only twelve, isn’t she wonderful ? ” 

The experience was so novel, it is scarcely to be 
wondered at that King and Kitty fell under the 
spell, as Marjorie had done, and the three sat 
breathlessly watching Vivian. 

Mademoiselle Cora smiled at the enraptured 
audience, and in a far corner of the tent sat a 
placid-looking woman knitting a shawl. This was 
the mother of the two girls, but she took little 
interest in the visitors, and except for an occa- 
sional glance at them, devoted herself to her knit- 
ting. 

After waiting a few moments, and seeing that 
the children did not reappear, Pompton decided 
to go into the tent himself. He hesitated about 
taking Rosamond in, but there was no help for 
it, so carrying the child in his arms, he pushed 
aside the canvas flap which formed the tent door, 
and stepped inside. 

" My word ! ” he exclaimed, as he saw the youth- 


198 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


ful performer, and the interested audience. 44 You 
children are the most surprising ! I think you had 
better come away now.” 

44 I think so, too,” remarked Vivian’s mother, 
looking up for a moment from her knitting. “ Are 
there many more of you to come?” 

44 Now don’t be uncivil, Mother,” said Cora, with 
her pretty smile. “ It does no harm for these 
children to see Vivian perform. You know she 
wasn’t on the programme to-day.” 

44 I’m only a beginner,” said Vivian, standing 
on her feet once more, and speaking to Marjorie 
and Kitty. 44 I’ve had quite a good deal of train- 
ing, and now I’m on the programme afternoons 
twice a week. Next year I’ll be on every after- 
noon.” 

44 Do you like it?” asked Kitty, fascinated by 
this strange child. Vivian was a pretty little girl, 
and she wore a garment of pink muslin, shaped like 
children’s rompers. She wore pink stockings and 
pink kid sandals, and her golden hair was short, 
and curled all over her little head. 

44 Yes, I like it,” replied Vivian, but a* wistful 
look came into her blue eyes. Gently, almost 
timidly, she touched Marjorie’s pretty coat and 
straw hat with her slender little fingers. 44 1 like 
it, — but I think I’d rather be a little home-girl 
like you.” 




W il i 1 f 


if mi r. ■ / X,' f 

1 M - 

If i 

J a 

f f f | | . 

. a wfm 

|| Lf,;l ifi 

/ fm 

IP%r f 


U I LIKE IT, BUT I THINK I’d RATHER BE A 

LITTLE HOME-GIRL LIKE YOU” 








































H, 











































LITTLE VIVIAN 


199 


“ Cora, send those children away,” said the 
mother, sharply. “ They upset Vivian completely 
when she sees them.” 

“ I like to see them,” said Vivian, and she sat 
down between Kitty and Midget. “ I like to see 
your pretty dresses, and real shoes and stockings. 
Do you go to school?” 

Marjorie felt strangely drawn to this little girl 
who seemed so to want the privacy of a home life. 
She spoke to her very gently. “ Yes, Vivian, we 
all go to school, — though I don’t go to a regular 
school, do you ? ” 

“No, I don’t. Mother and Cora say they’ll 
teach me every day, while we’re on the road, but 
they never get time. And I have to practise a 
great deal.” 

Marjorie looked around for a piano, and then 
suddenly realized that Vivian meant she must prac- 
tise her gymnastic exercises. 

“ Come, Miss Marjorie, we must be going,” said 
Pompton, who felt moved himself by the pathetic 
face of the little circus girl. 

“ Well, perhaps you’d better go now,” said 
Cora, who had received imperative glances from 
her mother. “ But we’ve enjoyed seeing you, and 
we thank you for your call.” 

Mademoiselle Cora had very polite manners, but 
she seemed to be under the rule of her mother, and 


200 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


it was with evident reluctance that she bade the 
visitors good-bye. 

44 I’ll give you my picture,” said Vivian to Mar- 
jorie, as they parted, 44 because I want you to 
remember me. I would like to have your picture, 
but Mother won’t let me have little girls’ photo- 
graphs. She thinks it makes me feel envious to 
see pictures of little home-girls.” 

44 Well, I’ll give you something to remember me 
by,” said Marjorie, impulsively, and she took from 
her neck a string of blue beads, and clasped it 
round Vivian’s throat. 

44 Oh, thank you,” said Vivian, with sparkling 
eyes. 44 1 shall wear them always, and love them 
because you gave them to me. Good-bye, dear, 
dear little home-girl ! ” 

The tears came into Marjorie’s eyes at the 
tremor in Vivian’s voice, and she kissed her affec- 
tionately, and then bidding good-bye to Mademoi- 
selle Cora they followed Pompton out of the 
tent. 

They were all rather silent as they trudged 
along to the trolley-car, and then Kitty said 
slowly, 44 Isn’t it awful to be like that? I suppose 
she never has any home-life at all.” 

44 Of course she hasn’t, Miss Kitty, as she has 
no home,” said Pompton ; 44 it’s wicked to put a 
child like that in a circus, it certainly is ! She’s' 


LITTLE VIVIAN 


201 


a sweet little girl, and her sister is a fine young 
lady, too.” 

“ The mother is horrid,” said King. 44 She 
was awful cross about our being there.” 

46 Well,” said Kitty, who sometimes saw deeper 
than the rest, 44 you mustn’t blame her too much. 
Couldn’t you see she didn’t want us there, because 
just the sight of happy home-children makes little 
Vivian feel sorry that she has to live in a circus? ” 

46 Yes, that was it,” said Marjorie. 44 1 suppose 
they haven’t any other way to earn their living.” 

The children could scarcely wait to get home to 
tell their parents of this wonderful experience. 

They found Mr. and Mrs. Maynard waiting for 
them at the hotel, and wondering a little because 
they were late. 

44 Oh,” cried Marjorie, flinging herself into her 
mother’s arms, 44 we’ve had a most ’stonishing 
time! We visited a little circus girl in her own 
tent, and here’s her picture ! ” 

Marjorie held up to her mother’s amazed view 
the picture of little Vivian. It was taken in stage 
costume, and represented Vivian in one of her 
clever acrobatic feats. Her pretty child-face 
wore a sweet smile, and the whole effect of the 
photograph was dainty and graceful. Across a 
corner was scrawled the word 44 Vivian ” in large, 
childish letters. 


202 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“Did you buy this?” asked Mrs. Maynard, 
knowing that circus performers often sold their 
photographs. 

“ Oh, no, indeed, Mother ; she gave it to me. 
And what do you think, Mother? The poor little 
thing has to live in a tent, and she wants to live 
in a home! And it made her awful sad to see us, 
’cause we have a home, and we can wear regular 
dresses and shoes, and she has to wear queer 
bloomer things, — and sandals on her feet ! ” 

“ But I don’t understand, Marjorie,” said Mrs. 
Maynard. “ How do you know all this ? Did you 
talk with the child? ” 

“ Oh, yes, Mother ; we went in her tent, and saw 
her mother and sister. I don’t think they mind 
being in the circus so much. But Vivian feels just 
awful about it ! And she’s such a sweet little 
thing; and, Mother, I have the loveliest plan! 
Don’t you think it would be nice for us to ’dopt 
her, and let her live with us ? ” 

“ Midget, what are you talking about ? ” and 
Mrs. Maynard’s face showed so plainly her dissent 
to the proposition that Marjorie jumped out of 
her lap, and ran across to her father, in the hope 
of better success. 

“ Now, Father,” she said as she threw her arms 
around his neck, and drew his arms around her; 
“ do please pay ’tention to my plan! You know 


LITTLE VIVIAN 


203 


we ought to do some good in this world, and what 
could be better than rescuing a poor little sad 
circus girl, and letting her live in our own happy 
home with us ? It wouldn’t cost much, — she could 
have half of my clothes, and half of Kitty’s, — we 
could each get along with half, I know. And we 
could both eat less, — that is, I could, — I don’t 
know about Kit. But anyway, Father, won’t you 
think about it ? ” 

“ Yes, dear,” said Mr. Maynard, looking fondly 
at his impetuous daughter ; “ I’ll think about it 
right now, — and I’ll express my thoughts aloud, 
as I think them. I think, first, that you’re a gen- 
erous and kind-hearted little girl to want to give 
this poor child a home. And I think next, that 
having made your suggestion, you must leave it 
to Mother and me to decide the matter. And our 
decision is that four children are quite enough 
for this family, and we don’t want to adopt any 
more! Besides this, Marjorie, it is far from likely 
that the little girl would be allowed to come to us. 
She is being trained for her profession, and though 
I feel sorry that the child is not happy, yet she is 
with her own people, and they are responsible 
for the shaping of her life and career. Just now, 
you are carried away by sympathy for the little 
girl, and I don’t blame you at all, for it is a sad 
case. But you must trust your father’s judgment, 


204 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


when he tells you that he does not think it wise 
to follow out your suggestion.” 

Marjorie looked disappointed, but she well knew 
that when her father talked thus seriously, there 
was no use in pursuing the subject; so she only 
said, “ All right, Father ; I know you know best. 
But it does seem too bad for Vivian not to have 
any home pleasures, when I have so many ! ” 

“ It does seem too bad, Marjorie, but since you 
can’t help her in any way, turn your thoughts to 
feeling glad and grateful that you yourself have 
a happy home, and can wear button boots.” 

Marjorie laughed at her father’s last words, but 
she knew that “ button boots ” stood for the civil- 
ized dress of the home-child, as contrasted with the 
stage trappings of the little Vivian. 

So she put the photograph away among her 
treasures, and often looked at it, and wondered 
if Vivian still longed for the sort of happy home- 
life that meant so much to Marjorie. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


IN BOSTON 

The next day the Maynards started for Boston. 
That is, their destination was Boston, but Mr. 
and Mrs. Maynard had decided to go by very 
short stages, and stop several times on the way. 

And so they spent one night at New London, 
two or three more at Newport and Narragansett 
Pier, and so on to Boston. 

It was too early in the season for the summer 
crowds at the watering places, but though the 
gay life was absent, they enjoyed their stay at 
each place. 

It was all so novel to the children that the days 
passed like a swiftly moving panorama, and they 
went from one scene to another, always sure of 
experiencing some new pleasure. 

One warm and pleasant afternoon the big car 
swung into Boston, and deposited its occupants at 
a pleasant hotel on a broad and beautiful avenue. 

As Mr. Maynard registered at the office, the 
clerk handed him a budget of mail. It was not 
205 


206 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


unusual for him to find letters awaiting him at 
the various hotels, but this time there were also 
four postcards for the children. 

“ Who can have written to us ? ” exclaimed Mar- 
jorie, as she took hers. “ I don’t know this hand- 
w r riting; I’m sure I never saw it before.” 

She turned the card over, and saw a picture of 
the State House, one of Boston’s principal places 
of interest. Beneath the picture was written: 

“ Please come and visit me ; 

I am the place you want to see.” 

“ How funny,” said Marjorie. “Who could 
have sent it? Is it an advertisement, Father? ” 

“ No, Midget. The State House doesn’t have 
to advertise itself! What is yours, King?” 

“ Mine is a picture of the Public Library, and 
this has a verse under it, too. It says : 

“ How do you think you like my looks ? 

Beautiful pictures and wonderful books ! ” 

“ These are lots of fun, whoever sent them,” said 
Kitty. “ Listen to mine. It’s a picture of Faneuil 
Hall. Under it is written: 

“ Do not think you have seen all 

Until you have visited Faneuil Hall ! ” 

“ And Rosy Posy has one, too,” said Mar- 
jorie. “Let sister read it, dear.” 


IN BOSTON 207 

“Yes, Middy wead my post-card,” and the 
baby handed it over. 

“ This is a lovely one,” said Marjorie. “ See, 
it’s all bright-colored flowers, and it says : 

“ The Boston Common’s bright and gay, 

With tulips in a brave array.” 

“ Sure enough,” said Mrs. Maynard, “ the 
tulips must be in bloom now, and to-morrow we 
must go to see them.” 

“ Oh, what lovely times we are having ! ” cried 
Marjorie. “ How long are we going to stay in 
Boston, Father? ” 

“Long enough, at any rate, to see all these 
sights suggested by your postcards. And I may 
as well tell you, children, that the cards were sent 
by Mr. Bryant, a friend of mine in Cambridge; and 
we are going to visit at his house when we leave 
here.” 

“ Have we ever seen him? ” asked Marjorie. 

“ Only when you were very small children ; not 
since you can remember. But they are delightful 
people, and indeed are distant cousins of your 
mother. I can assure you you’ll have a good time 
at their home.” 

“ We seem to have good times everywhere,” said 
Marjorie, with a happy little sigh of content. 
“ This has been the most beautiful May ever was ! 


208 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


And a real Maynard May, because we’ve all been 
together all the time ! ” 

44 May for the Maynards, and the Maynards for 
May,” sang King, and they all repeated the line, 
which was one of their favorite mottoes. 

44 Maytime is a lovely time, anyway, isn’t it, 
Father?” said Marjorie. 

44 Yes, unless it rains,” Mr. Maynard replied, 
smiling. 

44 Well, we’ve had awful little rain since we 
started,” commented Marjorie; 64 just a little 
shower now and then, and that’s all.” 

44 Maytime is playtime for us this year, sure 
enough,” said her father ; 44 1 hope you children 
realize that these are all Ourdays, and you’re piling 
up enough of them to last for two or three years 
ahead.” 

44 Oh, they don’t count that way, do they ? ” 
cried Kitty, in such dismay that her father 
laughed. 

44 Don’t worry, Kitsie,” he said. 44 1 guess we 
can squeeze out a few Ourdays in the future. 
Meantime, enjoy your May time while you may.” 

And this the Maynard family proceeded to do. 
They spent several days in Boston, seeing the 
sights of the town, and making little excursions 
to the suburbs and nearby places of interest. 

They visited the Public Library, and studied 


IN BOSTON 


209 


the wonderful paintings there. They went to the 
State House, and Faneuil Hall, and Mr. Maynard 
showed the children so many interesting relics, and 
taught them so much interesting New England 
history that Marjorie declared he was quite as 
good a teacher as Miss Hart. 

They spent much time in the Public Gardens 
and on the Common, for the Maynard children 
dearly loved to be out of doors, and the flowers 
in their masses of bloom were enchanting. 

Indeed, there was so much of interest to see that 
Marjorie felt almost sorry when the time came to 
go to Cambridge for their visit at Mr. and Mrs. 
Bryant’s. But her father told her that on their 
return from Cambridge they could, if they wished, 
spend a few more days in Boston. 

And so, one afternoon, the Maynards drove 
away from the hotel in their car, and crossed the 
Charles River to Cambridge. 

The Bryants’ home was a fine, large estate not 
far from Harvard College. 

66 Another college! ” exclaimed Marjorie, as they 
passed the University Buildings. “ Can we go 
through this one, Father, as we did through 
Yale? ” 

“ Yes,” said Mr. Maynard, “ and then King can 
make a choice of which he wants to attend.” 

“ I think I know already,” returned King ; “ but 


210 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


I won’t tell you yet, for I may change my 
mind.” 

As they turned in at the gateway of the Bryants’ 
home they found themselves on a long avenue, 
bordered with magnificent trees. This led to the 
house, and on the veranda their host and hostess 
stood awaiting them. 

“You dear people! I’m so glad to see you; 
jump right out, and come in,” exclaimed Mrs. 
Bryant, as the car stopped. She was a pretty, 
vivacious little lady, with cordial hospitality beam- 
ing from her gray eyes, and Mr. Bryant, a tall, 
dark-haired man, was no less enthusiastic in his 
greetings. 

“ Hello, Ed,” he cried. “ Mighty glad to see 
you here! Hope we can give you a good time! 
I know we can make it pleasant for you grownups, 
but it’s the kiddies I’m thinking about. I told 
Ethel she must just devote herself to their enter- 
tainment all the time they’re here. She’s laid in a 
lot of playthings for them, and they must just 
consider that the house is their own, and they can 
do whatever they like from attic to cellar! How 
many? Four? That’s what I thought. I don’t 
know their names, but I’ll learn them later. Here, 
jump up, Peter, Susan, Mehitabel, — or whatever 
your names are, — and let me see how you look ! ” 

As jovial Mr. Bryant had been talking, he had 


IN BOSTON 


211 


lifted the children from the car. He paid little 
attention to them individually, seeming to think 
they were mere infants. 

Mrs. Bryant was chatting away at the same 
time. “ Is this Marjorie? ” she said. 44 My, what 
a big girl ! When I last saw her she was only six 
or seven. And Kingdon, — almost a young man, I 
declare ! Kitty, I remember, — but this little chunk 
of sweetness I never saw before ! ” 

She picked up Rosy Posy in her arms, and the 
little one smiled and patted her cheek, for Mrs. 
Bryant had a taking way with children, and they 
always loved her. 

Marjorie couldn’t help thinking what a contrast 
this greeting was to their reception at Grandma 
Maynard’s, but she also realized that the Bryants 
were much younger people, and apparently were 
very fond of children. 

Altogether, it was a most satisfactory welcome, 
and the Maynards trooped into the house, with 
that comfortable feeling always bestowed by a 
warm reception. 

44 Now, I’ll take you girlies upstairs,” Mrs. 
Bryant chatted on, taking Marjorie and Kitty 
each by a hand ; 44 and I’ll brush your hair and 
wash your paddies, and fix you up all nice for 
supper.” 

Marjorie couldn’t help laughing at this. 


212 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 Don’t let us make you too much trouble, Mrs. 
Bryant,” she said. 44 You know we’re quite big 
girls, and we tie each other’s ribbons.” 

44 Bless me! Is that so? But you musn’t call 
me Mrs. Bryant! I’m Cousin Ethel, and Mr. 
Bryant is Cousin Jack, and if you call us any- 
thing more formal than that, we’ll feel terribly 
offended ! ” 

And then Cousin Ethel bustled away to look 
after her other guests, leaving Midget and Kitty 
to take care of themselves. 

She had given them a delightful room, large and 
sunshiny, with a sort of a tower bay-window on 
one corner. The carpet was sprinkled with little 
rosebuds, and the wall-paper matched it. Some 
of the chairs and the couch were covered with 
chintz, and that, too, had little rosebuds all over 
it. The curtains at the windows were of frilled 
white muslin, and the dressing table had all sorts 
of dainty and pretty appointments. There were 
twin brass beds, and on the foot of each was a 
fluffy, rolled coverlet, with more pink rosebuds. 

44 What a darling room!” exclaimed Marjorie, 
as she looked around. 44 Oh, Kit, isn’t it pretty? ” 

44 Lovely ! ” agreed Kitty. 44 And Cousin Ethel 
is a darling, too. I love her already! We’re go- 
ing to have a beautiful time here, Mops.” 

44 Yes, indeedy ! I wish we were going to stay 


IN BOSTON 


213 


all summer. Kit, this is a perfect May room, isn’t 
it? ” 

44 Yes, it’s so flowery and bright. What are 
we going to wear, Mops ? ” 

44 White dresses, I s’pose. Our trunk is here, 
you see.” 

44 And let’s wear our Dresden sashes and rib- 
bons, — then we’ll match this rosebuddy room.” 

And so when Cousin Ethel returned to her young 
guests, she found them all spick and span, in their 
dainty white frocks and pretty ribbons. 

44 Bless your sweet hearts ! ” she cried, kissing 
them both. 44 You look like Spring Beauties! 
Come on downstairs with me.” 

She put an arm around each of the girls, and 
they all went down the broad staircase. In the 
hall below they met Cousin Jack, who looked at 
them with an expression of disappointment on his 
face. 

44 Well ! ” he said. 44 Well, Susan and Mehitabel, 
— I’m surprised at you ! ” 

44 What’s the matter?” asked Marjorie, who 
could not imagine what Cousin Jack meant. 
Kitty, too, looked disturbed, for since Cousin 
Ethel had approved of their pretty dresses, she 
could not think what Cousin Jack was criticising. 

44 The idea,” he went on, 44 of you girls coming 
down dressed like that ! ” 


214 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


44 What do you mean, Jack?” asked his wife. 
44 I’m sure these darlings look lovely.” 

44 Yes, they do,” and Mr. Bryant’s tone was dis- 
tinctly aggrieved ; 44 but, you see, I thought we’d 
play Indians, — and who could play Indians with 
such dressed-up poppets as these?” 

Cousin Ethel laughed. 44 Oh, that’s all right,” 
she said. 44 Of course you can’t play Indians 
to-night, but you can play it all day to-morrow. 
And now, I think supper is ready. We usually 
have dinner at night, but we’re having supper on 
account of you children.” 

44 You’re awfully good to us, Cousin Ethel,” 
said Marjorie, appreciatively. 44 We do sit up to 
dinner at home, unless there are guests.” 

44 Well, I’ll see that you get enough to eat, 
whether it’s supper or dinner,” Cousin Jack as- 
sured them, and then, the others having arrived, 
they all went to the dining-room. 

The supper, besides being substantial and satis- 
fying, seemed to include almost everything that 
appealed to the children’s tastes ; and when at last 
the ice cream appeared, Kitty’s look of supreme 
content convinced Cousin Ethel that the meal had 
been wisely ordered. 

After supper they all went into the large living 
room, and Cousin Jack proceeded to entertain 
them. 


IN BOSTON 


215 


<c At what time do you have to go to bed, 
Mehitabel? ” he asked of Marjorie, whom, for no 
reason at all, he persisted in calling by that ridic- 
ulous name. 

“ They must go by nine o’clock,” said Mrs. 
Maynard, answering the question herself. “ The 
three older ones may sit up until then.” 

“ All right, Madam Maynard ; then I shall de- 
vote my attention to the three until their bedtime, 
after which I may be able to chat a little while 
with you and Ed.” 

Cousin Jack was as good as his word, and en- 
tertained the children zealously until nine o’clock. 
He arranged a magic lantern show, and as the 
pictures were very funny, and Cousin Jack’s de- 
scription of them funnier still, the young May- 
nards were kept in peals of laughter, in which the 
older part of the audience often joined. 

After this, he let them listen to a large talking- 
machine, and as many of the records were humor- 
ous songs or comical dialogues, there was more 
laughter and hilarity. 

Nine o’clock came all too soon, and the children 
trooped off to bed, regretfully. 

“ Shoo! ” cried Cousin Jack, as the clock struck, 
“shoo, every one of you! Scamper, Mehitabel! 
Fly, Susannah ! And hustle, Hezekiah ! ” 

With Cousin Jack clapping his hands and issu- 


216 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


in g his peremptory orders, the children ran laugh- 
ing away, and scurried upstairs. 

44 Did you ever see such ducky people ? ” said 
King, as he lingered in the upper hall a minute with 
his sisters. 

44 They’re perfectly beautiful!” said Marjorie. 
44 And I can hardly wait for to-morrow to come to 
see what Cousin Jack will do next.” 

44 Let’s go to bed,” said practical Kitty, 44 and 
that’ll make to-morrow come quicker. Good- 
night, King.” 

44 Good-night, Kit ; good-night, Mopsy,” and 
with an affectionate tweak of his sisters’ curls, 
King went away to his own room, and the girls to 
theirs. 


CHAPTER XIX 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEl/s 

Next morning Midget and Kitty were awake early, 
and found that the sunshine was fairly pouring 
itself in at their bay window. 

“ I don’t believe it’s time to get up,” said Mid- 
get, as she smiled at Kitty across the room. 

“ No ; Mother said she’d call us when it was 
time,” returned Kitty, cuddling down under her 
rosebudded coverlet. 

But just then something flew in at the open win- 
dow, and landed on the floor between their two beds. 

“ What’s that? ” cried Marjorie, startled. And 
then she saw that it was a large red peony blossom. 
It was immediately followed by another, and that 
by a branch of lilac blooms. Then came haw- 
thorn flowers, syringa, Rose of Sharon, roses, 
bluebells, and lots of other flowers, and sprays of 
green, until there was a perfect mound of flowers 
in the middle of the room, and stray blossoms 
fallen about everywhere. 

“ It’s Cousin Jack, of course,” cried Marjorie. 
“ Let’s get up, Kit.” 


217 


218 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


The girls sprang out of bed, and throwing on 
their kimonas, ran and peeped out of the window, 
from behind the curtains. 

Sure enough, Cousin Jack was standing down 
on the lawn, and when he saw the smiling faces, 
he began to chant a song to them: 

“ Susannah and Mehitabel, come out and play ! 

For it’s a lovely, sunny, shiny day in May ; 

And Cousin Jack is waiting here for you, 

So hurry up, and come along, you two ! ” 

Marjorie and Kitty could dress pretty quickly 
when they wanted to, so they were soon ready, 
and in fresh pink gingham dresses and pink hair- 
ribbons, they ran downstairs and out on to the 
lawn. King was already there, for Cousin Jack 
had roused him also. 

“ Hello, Kiddy-widdies ! ” Cousin Jack called 
out, as the girls flew toward him. “ However did 
you get bedecked in all this finery so quickly? ” 

“ This isn’t finery,” said Kitty ; “ these are our 
morning frocks. But say, Cousin Jack, how did 
you manage to throw those flowers in at our win- 
dow from down here?” 

“ Oh, I’m a wizard ; I can throw farther than 
that.” 

“Yes, a ball,” agreed Marjorie; “but I don’t 
see how you could throw flowers.” 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S 


219 


44 Oh, I just gave them to the fairies, and they 
threw them in,” and Cousin Jack wouldn’t tell 
them that really he had thrown them from a 
nearby balcony, and gone down to the lawn 
afterward. 

44 Well, anyway, it was a lovely shower of 
flowers, and we thank you lots,” said Marjorie. 

44 You’re a nice, polite little girl, Mehitabel, and 
I’m glad to see you don’t forget your manners. 
Now we have a good half hour before breakfast, 
what shall we play ? ” 

Kitty sidled over to Cousin Jack, and whispered, 
a little timidly, 44 You said we’d play Indians.” 

44 Bless my soul ! A gentle little thing like you, 
Susannah, wanting to play Indians! Well, then 
that’s what we play. I’ll be the Chief, and my 
name is Opodeldoc. You two girls can be squaws, 
— no, you needn’t either. Mehitabel can be a 
Squaw, and Susannah, you are a pale-faced 
Maiden, and we’ll capture you. Then Hezekiah 
here can be a noble young Brave, who will res- 
cue you from our clutches! His name will be 
Ipecacuanha.” 

Surely Cousin Jack knew how to play Indians! 
These arrangements suited the young Maynards 
perfectly, and soon the game was in progress. 
The Indian Chief and the Squaw waited in am- 
bush for the pale-faced Maiden to come along; 


220 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


the Chief meanwhile muttering dire threats of ter- 
rible tortures. 

Throwing herself into the game with dramatic 
fervor, Kitty came strolling along. She hummed 
snatches of song, she paused here and there to 
pick a flower, and as she neared the bush behind 
which the two Indians were hiding, she stopped 
as if startled. Shading her eyes with her hand, 
she peered into the bush, exclaiming, in tragic 
accents, “ Methinks I hear somebody ! It may be 
Indians in ambush! Yes, yes, — that is an am- 
bush, there must be Indians in it ! ” 

This speech so amused Cousin Jack that he 
burst into shouts of laughter. 

Kitty, absorbed in her own part, did not smile. 
“ Hah ! ” she exclaimed, “ methinks I hear the 
Indians warwhooping ! ” 

Kitty’s idea of dramatic diction was limited to 
“ Hah ! ” and “ Methinks,” and after this speech, 
Cousin Jack gave way to a series of terrific war- 
whoops, in which Marjorie joined. Cousin Jack 
was pretty good at this sort of thing, but his lungs 
gave out before Marjorie’s did, for, this being her 
specialty, her warwhoops were of a most extreme 
and exaggerated nature. 

“ Good gracious, Mehitabel, do hush up ! ” cried 
the Indian Chief, clapping his hand over his 
Squaw’s mouth. “ You’ll have all the neighbors 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S 


221 


over here, and the police and the fire department! 
Moderate your transports! Warwhoop a little 
less like a steam calliope ! ” 

Marjorie giggled, and then gave a series of 
small, squeaky, lady-like warwhoops, which seemed 
to amuse Cousin Jack as much as the others had 
done. 

“ You are certainly great kids ! ” he exclaimed. 
“ I’d like to buy the whole bunch of you ! But 
come on, my Squaw, we waste time, and the pale- 
faced Maiden approacheth. Hah!” 

“ Hah! ” replied Marjorie, and from behind his 
own distant ambush, King muttered, “ Hah ! ” 

Kitty stood patiently waiting to be captured, 
and so Chief Opodeldoc hissed between his teeth, 
“ Hah ! the time is ripe ! Dash with me, oh, Squaw, 
and let us nab the paleface! ” 

“ Dash on! I follow! ” said Marjorie, and with 
a mad rush, the two fierce Indians dashed out from 
behind their bush, and captured the pale-faced 
Maiden. 

Kitty struggled and shrieked in correct fashion, 
while the Indians danced about her, brandishing 
imaginary tomahawks, and shrieking moderately 
loud warwhoops. 

The terrified paleface was just about to sur- 
render, when the noble young Brave, Ipecacuanha, 
dashed forth, and sprang into the fray, rescuing 


222 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


the maiden just in the nick of time. Holding the 
paleface, who lay limp and gasping in his left 
arm, the young Indian madly fought the other two 
of his own tribe with his strong right arm. Appar- 
ently he, too, had a tomahawk, for he fearfully 
brandished an imaginary weapon, and did it so 
successfully, that Opodeldoc and his faithful Squaw 
were felled to the ground. Then the brave young 
Indian and the fair girl he had saved from her 
dire fate danced a war dance round their prostrate 
captives, and chanted a weird Indian dirge, that 
caused the fallen Chief to sit up and roar with 
laughter. 

“ You children do beat all! ” he exclaimed once 
more. “And, by jiminy crickets! there goes the 
breakfast bell ! Are you wild Indians fit to appear 
in a civilized dining-room?” 

“ ’Course we are! ” cried Marjorie, jumping up 
and shaking her frills into place. Kitty stood 
demurely beside her, and sure enough, the two 
girls were quite fresh and dainty enough for break- 
fast. 

“ You see,” explained Marjorie, “ this wasn’t a 
real tumble around play. Sometimes when we play 
Indians, we lose our hair-ribbons and even tear our 
frocks, but to-day we’ve behaved pretty well, 
haven’t we, King? ” 

“ Yep,” assented her brother, looking at the 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S 


girls critically, “ you look fine. Am I all right? ” 

“Yes,” said Marjorie, as she smoothed down 
one refractory lock at the back of his head. 
“ We’re all ready, Cousin Jack.” She turned a 
smiling face toward him, and remarking once 
again, “You do beat all!” the ex-Chief marched 
his young visitors in to breakfast. 

After that delightful and very merry meal was 
over, Cousin Ethel announced that she would take 
charge of the two girls that morning, and that 
King could share in their occupation or not as he 
chose. 

“ You see, it’s this way, girlies,” said Cousin 
Ethel, after she had led the way to a pleasant 
comer of the veranda, and her guests were grouped 
about her. “ A Charity Club to which I belong 
is going to have a sort of an entertainment which 
is not exactly a fair or a bazaar, but which is 
called a Peddler’s Festival. Of course, it is to 
make money for charity, and while the older people 
have charge of it, they will be assisted by young 
people, and even children. Now I think it will 
be lovely for you chick-a-biddies to take part in 
this affair, if you want to ; but if you don’t want to, 
you must say so frankly, for you’re not going to 
do anything you don’t like while your Cousin 
Ethel is on deck ! ” 

“ S’pose you tell ’em about it, Ethelinda, and 


224 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


let them judge for themselves,” said her husband, 
who was sitting on the veranda railing, with Midge 
and Kitty on either side of him, and Rosamond in 
his arms. 

44 Well, it’s this way,” began Cousin Ethel. 
44 Instead of having articles for sale in any room 
or hall, we are going to send them all around town, 
in pushcarts or wagons, each in charge of a ped- 
dler. These peddlers will be young people dressed 
in fancy costumes, and each will try to sell his load 
of wares by calling from house to house. Some 
peddlers will have pushcarts or toy express wagons, 
or even wheelbarrows. Others will carry a suit- 
case or a basket or a peddler’s pack. They may 
go together or separately, and the whole day will 
be devoted to it.” 

44 Great scheme ! ” commented Cousin Jack. 
64 Wish we might be in it, eh, Ned? ” 

44 Well, no,” said Mr. Maynard, 44 I don’t believe 
I care about that sort of thing myself, but I 
rather think the Maynard chicks will like it.” 

44 Yes, indeed,” cried Marjorie, her eyes dancing 
at the thought ; 44 1 think it will be lovely fun, 
Cousin Ethel. But can we girls push a big push- 
cart? Do you mean like the grocers use? ” 

44 There will be a few of those,” said Cousin 
Ethel, 44 and in all cases where the vehicles are 
too heavy for the girls, there will be young men 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S 


225 


appointed to do the pushing, while the girls cajole 
the customers into buying. It will not be difficult, 
as everybody will be waiting for you with open 
hearts and open purses.” 

“ It’s a grand plan,” said Kitty, speaking with 
her usual air of thoughtful deliberation. “ What 
shall we sell, Cousin Ethel ? ” 

“ Well, I’m undecided whether to put you two 
girls together, or put you each with some one else. 
I’d like to put you each with another little girl, 
but if I do that, I will have to put Marjorie with 
Bertha Baker, and I know she won’t like it.” 

“Why won’t she like it?” asked Marjorie, in- 
nocently. “ I’ll be nice to her.” 

“ Bless your heart, you sweet baby, I don’t 
mean that ! ” cried Cousin Ethel ; “ but the truth 
is, nobody likes Bertha Baker. She is a nice child 

in many ways, but she is, ” 

“ Grumpy-natured,” put in Cousin J ack ; 
“ that’s what’s the matter with Bertha, — she hasn’t 
any sunshine in her makeup. Now as Marjorie has 
sunshine enough for two, I think it will be a good 
plan to put them together.” 

“ The plan is good enough,” said his wife, “ if 
Marjorie doesn’t mind. But I don’t want her 
pleasure spoiled because she has to be with a 
grumpy little girl. How about it, Marjorie? ” 
“ I don’t mind a bit,” said Midget. “ We’re 


226 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


always good-natured ourselves, somehow we just 
can’t help being so. And if Bertha Baker is cross, 
I’ll just giggle until she has to giggle too.” 

44 That’s right, Midget,” said her father, nod- 
ding his head approvingly. 44 And if you giggle 
enough, I think you’ll make the grumpy Bertha 
merry before she knows it.” 

44 You see,” said Cousin Ethel, 44 everybody else 
is arranged for. And unless Marjorie goes with 
Bertha Baker, the child will have to go alone, for 
nobody else is willing to go with her.” 

“ What a disagreeable girl she must be ! ” said 
King. 44 I’m glad I don’t have to go with her.” 

44 But you will have to, King,” said Marjorie. 
44 He’ll have to push our cart, won’t he, Cousin 
Ethel? ” 

44 Why, yes, I thought he would do that ; but he 
shan’t if he doesn’t want to.” 

44 Oh, I do want to,” declared King, agreeably. 
44 I’m not afraid of any grumpy girl. I’ll smile 
on her so sweetly, she’ll have to smile back.” And 
King gave such an idiotic grin that they all smiled 
back at him. 

44 Now,” went on Cousin Ethel, briskly, 44 1 
thought, Marjorie, you could have the doll cart, 
and Kitty could be with May Perry and help sell 
the flowers. The flower wagon will be very pretty, 
and flowers are always easy to sell.” 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S m 

“ So are dolls,” said Marjorie. 44 Can I help 
you make some, Cousin Ethel, or are they already 
made ? ” 

66 The more elaborate dolls are being dressed by 
the ladies of our Club. But I thought, that if 
your mother and I and you girls could get to 
work to-day, we could make a lot of funny little 
dolls that I’m sure would be saleable.” 

“ Let me help, too,” said Cousin Jack. 44 I can 
make lovely dolls out of peanuts.” 

“ Nonsense,” said his wife, 44 we can all make 
peanut dolls. And besides, Jack, you must get 
away to your business. Your office boy will think 
you’re lost, strayed, or stolen.” 

44 1 suppose I must,” sighed Cousin Jack; 44 it’s 
awful to be a workingman. Come on, Ned; want 
to go in to Boston with me? ” 

The two men went away, and after a while 
Cousin Ethel called the children to come to what 
she called a Dolly-Bee. 

On the table, in the pleasant living room, they 
found heaps of materials. Bits of silk and lace 
and ribbon, to dress little dolls, — and all sort of 
things to make dolls of. 

King insisted on helping also, for he said he was 
just as handy about such things as the girls were. 
To prove this, he asked Cousin Ethel for a clothes- 
pin, and with two or three Japanese paper nap- 


228 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


kins, and a gay feather to stick in its cap, he 
cleverly evolved a very jolly little doll, whose 
features he made with pen and ink on the head of 
the clothespin. 

And then they made dolls of cotton wadding, 
and dolls of knitting cotton, and peanut dolls, and 
Brownie dolls, and all sorts of queer and odd 
dolls which they invented on the spur of the 
moment. 

They made a few paper dolls, but these took a 
great deal of time, so they didn’t make many. 
Paper dolls were Kitty’s specialty. But she cut 
them so carefully, and painted them so daintily, 
that they were real works of art, and therefore 
consumed more time than Cousin Ethel was willing 
to let her spend at the work. 

“ You mustn’t tire yourselves out doing these,” 
she admonished them. “ I only want you to work 
at them as long as you enjoy it.” 

But the Maynards were energetic young people, 
and when interested, they worked diligently; and 
the result was they accumulated a large number of 
dolls to sell at the Festival. 

King was given his choice between pushing a 
tinware cart with another boy, or pushing the doll 
cart for the girls. 

He chose the latter, “ because,” said he, “ 1 can’t 
leave Mopsy to the tender mercies of that grumpy 


FUN AT COUSIN ETHEL’S 229 

girl. And I don’t think tinware is much fun, any- 
how.” 

“ How do we know where to go, Cousin Ethel? ” 
said Marjorie, who was greatly interested in the 
affair. 

“ Oh, you just go out into the streets, and stop 
at any house you like. There won’t be any pro- 
cession. Every peddler goes when and where he 
chooses, until all his goods are sold.” 

“ Suppose we can’t sell them? ” said Kitty. 

“ There’s no danger of that. They’re all inex- 
pensive wares, and the whole population of Cam- 
bridge is expecting you, and the people are quite 
ready to spend their money for the good of the 

5 > 


cause. 


CHAPTER XX 


THE FESTIVAL 

Fortunately, the day of the Festival was a per- 
fectly beautiful, balmy, lovely spring day. The 
affair had been well-advertised by circulars, and 
the residents of Cambridge had laid in a stock of 
small change, with which to buy the wares of the 
itinerant peddlers. 

All was bustle and merriment at the Bryant 
home. The children were to start from there at 
about ten o’clock, and they were now getting on 
their costumes. 

Each peddler was expected to dress appropri- 
ately to the character of the goods he was selling. 
This was not always an easy matter, but much 
latitude was allowed; and so a Greek peddler sold 
pastry, an Italian peddler sold peanuts, and an 
Indian Chief sold baskets and little Indian trinkets. 
There were many others, selling notions, fruits, and 
even fresh vegetables. One boy trundled a peanut 
roaster, and another was a vendor of lemonade. 

When ready to start, the Maynard children and 
their carts presented a pretty appearance. The 
230 


THE FESTIVAL 


231 


dolls were arranged in a light pushcart, borrowed 
from the grocer. It was decorated with frills of 
crepe paper, and big paper bows at the corners. 
In it were more than a hundred dolls, ranging 
from the elaborately-dressed French beauties to the 
funny little puppets the children had made. 

Marjorie and Bertha Baker were themselves 
dressed to represent dolls. Marjorie’s dress was 
of pink muslin, frilled with lace, and a broad 
pink sash, tied low, with a big bow in the back. 
A frilled bonnet of pink muslin and lace crowned 
her dark curls, and she had been instructed by 
Cousin Ethel to walk stiffly, and move jerkily like 
a jointed doll. Bertha’s costume was exactly like 
Marjorie’s except that it was blue, and as Bertha’s 
hair was blonde and curly, she looked very like a 
Bisque doll. But Bertha’s face wore naturally a 
discontented expression, which was far less doll- 
like than Marjorie’s smiling countenance. 

As Cousin Ethel had prophesied, Marjorie found 
her new acquaintance decidedly ill-natured. But 
forewarned is forearmed, and Marjorie only re- 
plied pleasantly when Bertha made a sullen re- 
mark. Of course she was not really rude, and of 
course she had no reason to dislike Marjorie. But 
she was continually complaining that she was tired, 
or that the sun was too hot, or that she didn’t like 
their cart as well as some of the others. She had 


232 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


an unfortunate disposition, and had not had the 
right training, so the result made her anything 
but an amiable child. 

Gay-hearted Marjorie, however, joked with 
Bertha, and then giggled at her own jokes, until 
Bertha was really forced to smile in return. 

King, who pushed the doll-cart, was also dressed 
like a doll. The boy looked very handsome, in a 
black velvet suit with lace ruffles at the wrists and 
knees, and long white stockings with black slippers. 
He was clever, too, in assuming the character, and 
walked with stiff, jerky strides, like a mechanical 
doll that had just been wound up. 

Kitty was a dream of beauty. She was a little 
flower girl, of course, and wore the daintiest sort of 
a Dolly Yarden costume. Her overdress of flow- 
ered muslin was caught up at the sides in panniers 
over a quilted skirt of light blue satin. A broad- 
brimmed leghorn hat with a wreath of roses, and 
fluttering blue ribbons, sat jauntily on her golden 
hair. May Perry, who was Kitty’s companion, 
was costumed the same way, and the boy who 
pushed their cart was dressed like a page. 

The flower cart held not only bouquets and old- 
fashioned nosegays, but little potted plants as well. 

Cousin Jack had stayed home from business for 
the day; for, he said, he couldn’t get away from 
the glories of his bevy of young people. 


THE FESTIVAL 


233 


“ Before you go,” he said, as the two carts, with 
their attendants, were ready to start from his 
house, “ I’ll take a snap-shot of you.” 

He brought out his large camera, and took 
several photographs of the pretty group, which, 
later, proved to be beautiful pictures, and well 
worthy of framing. 

“ Now, go ahead, young peddlers,” he said. 
“ And whatever you do, remember to charge 
enough for your wares, — but don’t charge too 
much.” 

“ How shall we know what is just right? ” asked 
Kitty, puckering her brow, as she pondered this 
knotty question. 

“ Well, Kit, if you’re in doubt, leave it to the 
buyers. They’ll probably give you more that way, 
than if you set the price yourself. And especially 
with flowers. People always expect to overpay 
for them at a fair.” 

“ But I don’t want to cheat the people,” said 
Kitty. 

“ Don’t worry about that ; they quite expect 
to pay more than this trumpery is worth, because 
it’s all for charity. Now skip along, my hearties! 
And come back home if you get tired, no matter 
whether you’ve sold all your truck or not. I’ll 
buy whatever you have left.” 

So waving good-byes to the group looking after 


234 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


them, the children pranced gaily down the drive- 
way and out into the street. 

As Cousin Ethel had told them, they had no 
trouble at all in disposing of their wares. Mar- 
jorie concluded that half the population of Cam- 
bridge must be small children, so eager did the 
ladies seem to buy dolls. 

At many of the houses they were cordially in- 
vited to come in and partake of some refreshment, 
for the whole town seemed bent on entertaining 
the peddlers. But the Maynard children preferred 
not to accept these invitations, as they were not 
well enough acquainted, and as for Bertha Baker, 
when she was invited in to a house, she would reply 
bluntly, “ No, I don’t want to go in.” 

Midget and King looked at her in astonishment, 
for they were not accustomed to hear children talk 
like that. 

When the cart full of dolls had been about half 
sold, the children saw a little girl coming toward 
them with an empty express wagon. 

“ Hello, Bertha,” she said, “ what are you sell- 
ing?” 

“ Dolls,” said Bertha, shortly, and the Maynard 
children waited, expecting that Bertha would in- 
troduce the stranger. 

But Bertha didn’t, and only said, “ Come on,” 
to her own companions, and started on herself. 


THE FESTIVAL 


235 


“ Wait a minute,” said King, who was growing 
rather tired of Bertha’s company, and was glad 
to meet somebody else. “ I say, Bertha, introduce 
us to your friend.” 

“ She’s Elsie Harland,” said Bertha, ungra- 
ciously, and evidently unwillingly. 

But King took no notice of Bertha’s unpleas- 
ant manner. “ How do you do, Elsie? ” he said, 
in his frank, boyish fashion. “ This is my sister, 
Marjorie, and I am Kingdon Maynard. Can’t I 
help you pull your wagon? I see you’ve sold all 
your things.” 

“ Yes ; I only had post-cards to sell,” said Elsie, 
“ and the people bought them in such big bunches 
that now they’re all gone. So I thought I’d like 
to go around with you, and help sell your dolls.” 
She looked inquiringly at Bertha, who replied, 
66 I s’pose you can, if you want to, but I should 
think you’d go home.” 

“Don’t go home,” said Marjorie, cordially; 
“ come along with us, and we’ll all sell dolls to- 
gether.” 

“ She can’t sell our dolls,” said Bertha, snappily, 
and this so irritated King that he couldn’t help 
speaking out. 

“ Bertha Baker,” he said, “ if you don’t behave 
yourself, and act more pleasant, I’ll put you in 
the cart, and sell you for a doll ! ” 


236 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


This so surprised Bertha that she stared at 
King, wonderingly, but the other girls laughed, and 
then they all went on together. 

Bertha made no further objections, and Mar- 
jorie could see that she did try to be a little more 
pleasant. King saw this, too, and he realized that 
she was the kind of a girl who obeyed scolding 
better than coaxing. So when they reached the 
next house, King said, “ Now we’ll all go in here 
together to sell the dolls ; but we won’t go until 
Bertha puts on a sweet smile. So, smile away, my 
lady!” 

King’s merry speech made Bertha laugh, and 
the dimples came in her cheeks, and she looked 
very pretty as they went up the walk. 

“ Goodness, Bertha ! ” exclaimed Elsie. “ If 
you knew how much prettier you look when you 
smile, you’d always wear a broad grin ! ” 

Bertha scowled at this, and seeing it, King 
stopped stock-still. 

“ Cook up that smile again ! ” he cried. “ Not 
another step till you do ! ” 

As the lady of the house was waiting for them 
on the veranda, this was embarrassing, so Bertha 
smiled, and then the whole group moved on. 

So they kept on for the rest of the trip, King 
jollying Bertha whenever it was necessary, and 
the other girls making merriment for themselves. 


THE FESTIVAL 


237 


Marjorie and Elsie soon became friends, for they 
were alike merry-hearted and pleasant-mannered. 

It was about noon when they sold their last doll 
and turned their faces homeward. Elsie and 
Bertha went with them, and when they reached 
Cousin Jack’s house they found Kitty and May 
Perry already there. 

“ Here you are, my little peddlers ! Here you 
are, with your empty carts!” cried Cousin Jack, 
as the children came upon the veranda. “ All sold 
out, I see.” 

“ Yes,” said Marjorie, “ and we could have sold 
more if we had had them.” 

“ Then there’s nothing left for me to buy from 
you, and I really need a doll.” 

“ I’ll make you one before I go home, Cousin 
Jack,” said Marjorie; “ and then you can keep it 
to remember me by.” 

“ All right, Mehitabel ; good for you ! I’ll play 
with it every day, — and when I go to see my little 
friends I’ll take it with me. And now, my weary 
peddlers, let me tell you what you have still before 
you! A number of young people, mostly retired 
peddlers, are coming here to luncheon with you. 
But we won’t call it luncheon, because that sounds 
so prosaic. We’ll call it, — what shall we call it? ” 

“ A festival feast,” said Kitty. “ That sounds 
gay and jolly.” 


238 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


“ So it does,” agreed Cousin Jack. “ A May 
Day Festival Feast for the Maynards, and nothing 
could be pleasanter nor that ! ” 

And even before Cousin Jack finished speaking, 
the young guests began to arrive, and Marjorie 
realized that it was a party her kind cousins 
had made for them. 

There were about twenty guests all together, and 
as they wore the pretty costumes they had worn 
as peddlers, it was a picturesque group. 

“ Ho, for the Festival Feast ! ” exclaimed Cousin 
Jack, and taking Marjorie and Kitty by either 
hand he went dancing with them across the lawn. 

Under a clump of trees they discovered that a 
table had been set, though it had not been visible 
from the house. 

The table was like a vision of Fairyland, and 
Marjorie thought she had never before seen such 
a pretty one. 

The decorations were of pink, and in the middle 
of the table was a wicker pushcart of fairly good 
size, filled with parcels wrapped in pink tissue 
paper. From each parcel a long end of ribbon 
led to the plate of each little guest. Also at 
each place was a much smaller pushcart of gilded 
wicker-work tied with pink bows, and filled with 
candies. 

Pink sweet peas and ferns were scattered over 


THE FESTIVAL 


239 


the white tablecloth, and across the table ran a 
broad pink satin ribbon which bore in gold letters 
the legend , 44 May for the Maynards, the Maynards 
for May ! ” 

44 What a beautiful table!” cried Marjorie, as 
the lovely sight greeted her eyes. 

44 What beautiful guests!” cried Cousin Jack, 
as he looked at the smiling, happy crowd of chil- 
dren. And then he helped them to find their 
places, which were marked by pretty cards, painted 
with pink flowers. 

As far as possible, everything was trimmed with 
pink. The china was white with pink bands, the 
rolled sandwiches were tied with little pink ribbons, 
the little cakes were iced with pink, and there were 
pink candies, and pink ice cream, and pink lemon- 
ade. 

Then after the feast was over, the children were 
instructed to pull gently on the ribbons that lay 
at their plate, and thus draw toward them the 
pink paper parcels. 

These being opened proved to contain a dainty 
gift for each one, the prevailing color, of course, 
being pink. 

44 It’s the pinkiest party I ever saw ! ” exclaimed 
Marjorie. 44 It makes it seem more like May, 
being so pinky ! ” 

44 That’s because it’s for the Pink of Perfec- 


240 


MARJORIE’S MAYTIME 


tion,” said Cousin Jack, looking fondly at Mar- 
jorie, whom he considered his chief guest. 

Then they all left the table, and with Cousin 
Jack as ringleader, they played merry games until 
late in the afternoon. 

At last the children all went home, and Mar- 
jorie threw her arms around Cousin Jack’s neck, in 
a burst of gratitude. “ You are too good to us ! ” 
she exclaimed. 

“ Now, Mehitabel, you know I think nothing 
could be too good for you, you’re such a gay little 
Maynard! Can’t I induce you to stay here with 
me when your people go home to-morrow? ” 

Marjorie laughed, for this was the second in- 
vitation she had had to leave her family. But she 
well knew Cousin Jack didn’t expect her to do it, 
and so she smiled, and said, “ I couldn’t be induced 
to do that, Cousin Jack; but I think it would be 
awfully nice if you and Cousin Ethel would come 
and live in Rockwell. Then we could see you so 
much oftener.” 

“ I’m not sure that we can go and live there, — 
but if we were coaxed very hard, we might come 
and visit you some time.” 

“ I rather think you will ! ” said Mr. Maynard, 
heartily, “ and the sooner you come, and the longer 
you stay, the better we’ll like it ! ” 

And before the Maynards left Cambridge, it was 


THE FESTIVAL 


241 


definitely arranged that Cousin Jack and Cousin 
Ethel should visit them in the near future. 

The next day the Maynards started for home. 
They were to stop a day or two in Boston, and 
then proceed by easy stages back to Rockwell. 

As the big car started away from the Bryant 
house, after farewells both merry and affectionate, 
the children sang in gay chorus, one of their 
favorite road songs : 

“All through the May 
The Maynards play ; 

And every day 
Is a holiday. 

Glad and gay, 

The Maynards play ; 

Maytime for Maynards, 

Maynards for May ! 

No longer in Cambridge can we stay, 

But over the hills and far-a-way ; 

And so good-day. 

For we must away, 

May for the Maynards ! The Maynards for May ! ” 






















































































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